It is definitely 5 o'clock somewhere...

Airports. They are the absolutely most fabulous place to watch people in the world. You see such a wide variety and assortment that you cannot be bored.  It is just not possible.  I flew home to Arkansas by way of the Atlanta airport through to Memphis last weekend. When I arrived to check-in they informed me that there was not an available seat so I should wait and see what they could do for me.  I stood to the side of the line and watched everyone check in and proceed to their seats.  I have always seen that person standing there awkwardly, but this was my first experience being that person.  People look at you and are internally thinking and glaring at you: "I am so glad that is not me", "I wonder if she is a terrorist", "She better not hold up our flight" and etc.  Finally my turn came and the sweet lady that was checking boarding passes began to click and pound the keys of her keyboard. The woman seriously was flying across those buttons like nobody's business. I just knew I was going to have to wait and be bumped to a later flight.  Instead she happily informed me that because of the airlines mistake I was sitting in first class. FIRST CLASS! This is on my bucket list to sit in first class and even better it was FREE. I get settled in my seat and I immediately notice that my shoulders have so much more room and my legs are not all scrunched up like back in coach.  This is the best.  While we were waiting to take off the stewardess comes and asks what drinks we would like before heading toward Memphis.  I tell her I would like water.  Considering it is 8 o'clock in the morning I mentally assume that everyone around me will have coffee, water, orange juice or maybe soda.  No. Everyone around me ordered Baileys and coffee. It was like wild fire.  One person ordered it and so the entire first class section besides me ordered it as well.  They had two rounds before we even were off the ground.  Once up in the air I settled in reading my book and the stewardess came back around to check on if we needed anything.  Then the serious drinks started coming.  Everyone ordered vodka tonics and then they started on bloody Mary's.  The first class section drank the airplane out of alcohol.  This is an hour flight mind you.  It was nuts.  I have never seen people get slammed first thing in the morning on an airplane as a collective group like this.  The group was very diverse.  There was the standard know-it-all business man who has been in every business venture from contracting, golf cart manufacturing, enlistment. and some sort of sales.  If he hadn't done it I am pretty sure it didn't exist.  There were the parent and adult children group who were going to a golf event while wearing matching Ralph Lauren Polo outfits.  They discussed their "wealth" the entirety of the flight.  As I sat there with this indeed eclectic group I wondered do I seem like this to all the coach passengers who passed by? When they see me in the airport later are they going to assume I was imagining I was at Margaritaville while on the plane like these other peeps?  (Just as a note I happened to be wearing a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt that day.)  Hopefully they could distinguish that I was not at the party barge first thing in the morning considering I was able to walk straight off the plane and could pass a sobriety test if needed.  I guess this whole bizarre and very amusing experience just goes to show that it really is 5 o'clock somewhere or at least that's what these folks were counting on. 

You can take the girl out of Arkansas but you can't take Arkansas out of the girl

If you were unaware of this and it is quite possible if you are reading this you do not know I recently moved to Atlanta. Yes. I said Atlanta, Georgia.  The peach state.  Home of former President Jimmy Carter.  Okay I think there are all the Georgian facts I have for the moment.  The reason for my move was to attend seminary.  I feel a call to ministry and at the moment I see it being in the area of teaching hopefully Christian Ethics at the collegiate level.  Pretty much everyone who has found out that I moved to Atlanta has questioned my ability to survive in this urban jungle.  This rural Arkansas girl will surely be trampled by the city folk here in Atlanta.  On the other side of the coin most everyone I have met here in Atlanta is taken aback that they can now say they have met someone from Arkansas (because apparently you don't meet folks from AR every day) and they are concerned that where I am from is three hours from an airport.  To everyone at home I have survived a week. I have successfully located Target (of course one of the essentials to locate in any city) and have managed to maneuver my way on both the perimeter interstate and the other one (I can't remember the name right now) which are both located minutes from my apartment.  Aside from the haters it is kind of nice being a novelty.  I am educating all my new friends on the quirky and interesting (well I think they are interesting) facts about my beloved home state.  Williams Baptist College is now known here.  They are aware of the earthquakes we have, the diamond mine, Razorback pride, and the wet/dry county issue.  My Georgian friends have shown me Stone Mountain and its Confederate glory.  I feel like I can confidently say I am a true Southerner after seeing the monument to the Confederate heroes.  My roommate is from North Carolina and we trade facts daily.  I do await getting to visit the beach there one day soon. On a more serious note since I have arrived here I have seen the Lord again show His faithfulness.  My grandmother passed away yesterday.  I already have community who is praying for me and my family here and that is most appreciated.  I am blessed to be able to fly home for the funeral and to be with my family as we grieve the loss of this amazing woman who has forever shaped my life.  (I plan on writing a post dedicated to my grandmother soon).  Arkansas will forever be my home but for now while I am in Atlanta I am excited and comforted by my experience here so far.  God is with me as I pursue my education and the Lord's hand will be over me no matter where I am.