A Thump in the Night

"Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." This is true. But my pride usually goeth (flees, runs away, is lost) after my fall. And mortified. I'm not sure of the exact definition, but looking at it's root word, I think it means... death would be better than what just happened because it was that embarrassing.

I woke up in Paris airport this morning. Correction: I woke up on the floor of the Paris airport this morning, staring up into the face of my mysterious follower. I realized that I must have fallen of my chair and I could feel myself starting to blush, so I quickly tried to right myself and just get off the floor. You know how I was using my purse as a pillow? It had fallen with me and had decided to become entangled around my neck and arms. To add to my predicament, my right leg had fallen asleep and refused to move when I told it to. When I tried to raise myself up, my neck and my arms were stuck together and slammed back to the floor, but not before I almost broke the nose of the guy looking down at me with a worried look on his face. At the same time, I was trying to command my legs to move, but only the left was listening, leaving me helplessly squirming on the floor. Mortified. I ceased to move, closed my eyes, and hoped he would leave me for dead.

I waited for a few seconds and then peeked a glance out of one eye. Groan. He was still standing there.

"Would you mind turning around?" I pleaded.

"Are you sure you don't need some help?" He really did look worried about my predicament.

"NO! I mean, I just need to regain my wits and my dignity, thanks."

Graciously, he turned his back on me, but he seemed unwilling to leave me for very long. He probably assumed I would only become more entangled and he needed to stick around. I pounded my right leg on the floor a few times to get the blood circulating, slowly untangled myself from my villainous handbag strap, and pulled myself into my chair. Sigh of relief. He glanced behind his shoulder to find my situated and looking like I was never on the floor of the airport. He grabbed and his bag and then just, left. Now I could feel myself blushing. I sank into my chair and wished for it to really be a portal into Narnia. Or anywhere that was not right here. But instead of Narnia, the restrooms seemed to call to me instead. I needed to brush my teeth in the worst way.

To my surprise, he was back when I returned. And he was back with coffee and breakfast. For two. And he had bacon. I can't resist bacon. It's just a fact of life. So I thanked him for my bacon, egg, and cheese croissant and promptly scarfed it down in a ladylike manner. By the time I finished, it was time to head to my gate and get ready to board my plane to Brussels. I was pretty ready for some real rest and relaxation and of course, chocolate.

So now only one flight stands in between me and the rest of my vacation. You know the drill, it's time for me to pack away my computer and prepare for take-off. I have a lovely window seat this time. Perhaps I'll see the Eiffel Tower from the sky.

Oh, and his name is Rick.