Made it

Flying standby feels a little like joining a subservient lower class, then playing the lottery to better your standing. Now all ticketed passengers may proceed to the podium for boarding. As for the rest of you, off to the side so that you don't impede the passage of those who through good breeding and hard work have obtained boarding passes. I'll deal with you later.

Getting on the earlier flight was supposed to be the difference between seeing Dylan before she went to bed and getting in after I am supposed to go to bed, but it didn't quite work out that way. After scurrying subordinately onto the plane I was all excited, but that faded as the captain announced that we would probably push back and then hang out on the runway for an indeterminate amount of time because of thunderstorms throughout the Northeast. We did get a good start on the planting ourselves on the runway to wait, but it quickly escalated into "Now they've put a hold on all flights on our flight path and if you look out the right of the plane you'll see why [cue huge, dark, ominous thunderstorm quickly rolling in over Boston] and screw this we're turning off the engine." You know you're in trouble when they allow you to get your portable electronic devices back out again.

The thunderstorm turned out to be quick moving indeed. I wasn't looking out the window and suddenly the plane started rocking back and forth. Soon it was just like being in a car wash, but for planes! Imagine that! It really was pretty crazy and the lightening seemed really close. Then all of a sudden it was totally clear and we were ready to go and I barely had time to shut my computer down (which admittedly takes a long time, Vista I'm looking in your direction) before we took off.

Aaron leaves tomorrow for almost five days. The chaos factor would have been more impressive if he left several hours after I got in, but close enough.