MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

It seems that God provided the most serene azure sky for our last scheduled day in Brazil. The morning was spent packing, leisurely breakfasting and snooping around the hotel's gift shops. We had to be packed up and out of our rooms by 1:00 pm. All checked baggage was to be left in the hallway for the porters to assemble for transport to the airport via a large truck. Carry on baggage was temporarily stowed in a meeting room on the same floor as our breakfast restaurant. Some people made a last dash into town via taxi or hoofing it down the twisting roadway that separates our hotel from the main Le Blon beach area for final shopping expeditions. Others sat around the beautiful swimming pools with their commanding views of the Atlantic that is significantly calmer than the pounding surf we saw just 24 hours ago. We were all loaded up and ready to go not more than 10 minutes after our scheduled departure time-and left with eyes taking what would be our last look at the Sheraton and the beach. Or?

The announced route was the long one along the beaches for our last look at the beauty provided for us. And then ( /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ "Jaws" theme music inserted here /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/), it happened. Being in the second bus, our guide announced that a change had been requested via radio from the first bus, and we turned off the beach boulevard. Next, she announced in quick succession that, per instructions just received, we were returning to the hotel. And then, she smiled as she unbelievably announced that the flight had been delayed-significantly delayed until early the next morning. The looks of incredulity were everywhere. Everyone was wondering aloud-was this a tease? No, Licia insisted, it was completely factual, in spite of her comments about staying here in Rio just as we were pulling out of the hotel parking lot! And indeed it was true!!

The trio that included your journalist who had made other arrangements for the flight to and from Rio via American Airlines was boosted into a rental car with a driver to make the drive via Fiat station wagon rather than via bus. After arriving at the airport, we found our luggage that had been separated from the bulk of the bags still left assembled on the embarkation sidewalk. After checking in with AA, we spent our time shopping and being periodically informed by Luis of the local travel agents office about the continuing saga with the flight. It was delayed he explained, then delayed again, delayed yet again, and finally cancelled. The Continental Airlines flight left Rio this evening totally empty except for the crew. Their new flight was, at last report before we cleared customs, scheduled to depart tomorrow at about 11:00 am flying directly into Houston, then on into Dallas. (LAST MINUTE UPDATE: THEY ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN HOUSTON!!) Continental Airlines, as we understand it, is picking up the tab for another night's stay and meal for the balance of the SMONCT entourage at the Sheraton Rio. And so, you should already have received the final reports from John Bell about their last day in beautiful Rio. Let's face it, Rio's not a bad place to be stuck, although there were a number in the party of whom we were aware that truly desired not to spend that extra 17 hours before departing this tropical paradise.

The scheduled travel from Rio to Miami for the solitary Texas Trio went off without a hitch. We were up in the air perfectly on schedule and arrived with equal promptness. Though the 'red-eye' flight was a challenge to our ability to catch some much needed sleep, we survived the full plane-full because it was also carrying some of the passengers who were also cancelled off of the SMONCT's Continental flight. True to his "never met a stranger" mentality, Gerre Joiner pumped one of our pre-boarding acquaintances going for oil industry training to Houston and also a surgeon while in flight. The Ashley's had a couple of men seated nearby that were somewhat loud and boisterous in the time before takeoff. The accents were a dead giveaway of their Texas origins, which they confirmed. One asked me to pinpoint from where in Texas, and my reply of Midland was just oh so close as he hailed from Odessa! The other was from Mansfield.

Our reentry into the U.S. through immigration and customs was very smooth and painless. I guess it is reassuring to see that while our carryon luggage was x-rayed upon departure that all of our bags are once again x-rayed before they are allowed to proceed to the customs booths. The flight to Dallas was at the other end of the airport, so several concourses, escalators and elevators had to be traversed before collapsing at the gate to wait for a 6:34 am departure. The flight to Dallas was pretty smooth until we got into Texas air space.

Our waking thoughts and prayers are with the group as they are scheduled to take off just as we touchdown. This email will not have pictures attached as I am separated from my compatriot and chief emailing agent, John Bell. You must know that several of our singers, John among them, pulled soundboard duty during the concerts due to the absence of experienced and trained church members, hence they lost several opportunities to sing. John was rewarded however with a solo on the final presentation of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

The trio made it home safely and on time. We dropped Gerre Joiner off at the Cracker Barrel in Denton for his ride home to Decatur. As for me, I couldn't resist Cracker Barrel's gooooood ol' Texas meal of Chicken Fried Steak, Smashed taters with cream gravy, Fried okra and sweet tea after Gerre disappeared down 380!

It's been fun for me to write. I hope all the details brought the trip alive for you. As I told several others, the pictures are nice to see, but I was trying to make you feel as if you were there with us.

Cia! ("Chow"-phonetically speaking!)

Charles Ashley, SMONCT Brazil Trip Journalist

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