sound the alarm

I've often wonder what happens to all the passengers when an airport is evacuated and luckily today was my lucky day! Halfway through our Departure Gate Purgatory, the fire alarm went off. Being Bermuda, the overriding reaction of the passengers was to talk louder so they could continue their conversations. But, alas, the airport security squadron (who, no doubt, had been training years for this day) shooed us all out in the name of protocol blah blah blah life blah blah safety. So in the name of 'safety', six hundred people (including many children, haggard parents, and elderly) were expelled from the bowels of the airport to the completely unsheltered coast (with convection oven heat and sun sizzling the crowds). No access to bathrooms. No access to water. For an hour. We were even told off for seeking shade under the palm tree below because we were too close to the building ("No, you have to wait on the other side of the road" - because twenty feet will make that life or death difference).

Finally, they let us back inside where the MEF cafe there made a killing on food and drink sales. Then all six hundred of us squeezed back through the security strip point and finally onto our airplane. At least we weren't bored.

Landing in Boston we hit the road where Charlie suddenly decided to get some attention. At our most stressed and weary and impatient, Charlie decided to scream a scream that I imagine torture victims emit right before their end. For, oh, about 45 minutes straight. Unfortunately, the law enforcement community frown upon breastfeeding while driving (when will we finally have our important freedoms protected!?) so he continued until he exhausted himself just before we reached VT.

We were received by the welcome faces of the Harders, the Heinzes, and Zalingers x2. I've seldom been so relieved to finally reach a destination.