1. Leaving for the Airport
We suggested that it made sense for us to take a taxi to the airport in the morning. Our flight was to leave at 6:00am, and (doing the math) that meant leaving for the airport at 3:30am. Why get up and drive us, when we can just call a taxi?
They would hear none of it.
So at 2:45 on our last morning in Ottawa, my father’s alarm clock went off, giving him enough time to dress and heat some water for tea before he promised to knock on our bedroom door.
Trudy had taken a shower the night before, so the only threat to our on-time departure was me. But thanks to a blanket slipping off the bed and a resulting dream about sleeping in a tent with ice falling in thru the ceiling, I was up even earlier and took my shower in a flash.
We left for the airport on time.
2. Waving Goodbye
Not only would they have nothing to do with us calling a taxi that morning, but they also refused to drop us off at the curb. They wanted to walk in with us.
So after a bit of driving around, we found a parking spot in the garage. It was far in the back—perhaps as far from the terminal as you can get in that place. We had plenty of time.
We all got out of the car and walked in. They showed us the way to the international check-in counter, a path they evidently know well.
They worried about the line moving slowly, although we had plenty of time. And they tried to give us some (Canadian) cash for snacks. And they stood by patiently on the far side of the barricades as we filled out paperwork and waited in line.
They stood there watching us, smiling and waving. We smiled and waved back just before we disappeared around the corner.
Goodbye, Dad. Goodbye, Khadija. Thanks for the wonderful time.