The Trip Starts-Curse of the Eagle Kachina Doll

If you can believe it, the first plane flight to Los Angeles was late. US Airways told me and 2 others that we had to run to the international terminal a half mile away! Despite running an 4 minute half mile to try and catch our flight we still missed the international flight to Dubai and stayed an additional 5 hours in LA. If you can believe it, the reason the plane was late getting to Phoenix is that they couldn't fit all the baggage on the plane! Go figure that one out!The cool thing about missing the flight to Dubai is I made a new friend. His name is Jason. It s much easier dealing with all the nonsense and having a good time with it.

After getting our flights straightened out, we had to get out baggage taken care of. I told him I had a big Kachina that I packed in my checked baggage that I hoped to recover. I told him that I had to dissassemble it somewhat to get it packed. He said, "No wonder why we missed our flight and the plane was late! It is bad luck to take a Kachina apart!" Needless to say, the Eagle Kachina was mad. It took two attempts and a personal medical appeal for the airline to get our bags.

During our layover in LA, we watched the Celtics and Lakers play. Beat LA! There we met Dave from Sydney, Australia with a Minnesota accent. He picks up accents quickly since he was in Minnesota for only 4 days! It must be because he likes Fosters! It's Minnesoter for beer!

On our night flight to Charleston, NC, they Captain said for us to make ourselves at home. I wondered what he would think if I took that seriously and began walking arond in my boxers? We met Rayna on the flight. She is a farmer in Los Angeles. That's right! She farms horses and grows them big there as in Clydesdales. She is a respectable girl. She stayed awake the whole flight because she won't sleep with strangers. :) On our flight to Dulles, Jason and I compared our boarding passes and figured out I wasn't given my boarding pass for our flight to Johannesburg! IT'S THE KACHINA!

At Dulles, I was able to clear up my flight to Joburg. We lucked out a bit. We attributed our luck in getting our bags back, our itineraries straightened, and a 3 hour tour of Washington D.C. from Jason's sister Beth to the Bear and Fox Kachina dolls packed with the Eagle. We saw the Capital, Whitehouse, The Washington Monument, and The Lincoln Memorial where I had to make a diving catch to save my new camera because the Eagle Kachina wanted it broken!

On the flight to Joburg, I met Ben. Ben owns a trucking company in Zimbabwe. He travels to the USA to buy trucks for his operations 3 times a year. He has a wife, three girls (a 26 yo and 16 yo twins) and 2 boys 22 and 10. He recommends that everyone should go see Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe!

I finally made it to Joburg and was picked up by my good friend Pieter. Pieter and his family have welcomed me into their home during my stay in South Africa. We had to get a good night sleep because we would be up at 4 am to catch a flight to Capetown. The next morning at Joburg airport, the Eagle Kachina struck again and I lost my phone at the Security checkpoint! It continues!! Will I find my phone? Will the Security Personnell turn it in? Will the Bear and Fox come to my rescue?

On my way from OR Tambo Airport to Pieter and Marlene's house in Sasolburg, I noticed a lot of electrified fencing and razor wire around individuals properties, especially close to the highways. Everyone's house and most businesses had some sort of security. All of the signs said Armed Response. Yes, the security folks show up and they mean business fully armed! It was explained as a way to help an overloaded police force. Even Pieter and Marlene's house have Armed Response. It was a little of a culture shock however I never felt at risk.

After our return to Joburg from Capetown, we went to Security. Gues What! The security people turned in my phone and I recovered it when I returned to Joburg from Capetown! Unbelievable!!!

The Eagle Kachina got its last poke in on me. My entire airline booking on the way home from South Africa had been deleted by Emirates Airline. Emirates deleted it since I didn't show up for the first flight that I missed because of the Kachina Curse. After a lot of sweet talking, I was able to get on my original flight to Dubai, however I was flying standby for a plane that was full from Dubai to Los Angeles. In Dubai, I had to go through Customs and Immigration  only to  pick up my luggage at baggage claim just to re check it in for the next flight. After sitting in the airport for an hour, I was told that I was able to get on the flight. I had about 30 minutes to make it through Customs and Immigration again and through security. It was unbelievable the hassle caused by that Kachina. No wonder why I don't own any of them for myself! It appears the Eagle Kachina is happy in his new home in South Africa and hasn't caused any more grief.....