Hi Stacy, I just got in from three incredible days of flying with a kitten rescue in the mix. I lived in San Diego for 3 years a long time ago and my college boyfriend's father still lives there. We've kept in touch for 20 years! He's excited to help me in my Ballou adventure, so he'll pick us up at the airport and drive us to you. We're thinking about the second week of July on Friday or Saturday. I need to check the flights and then get back to you. Thank you for being so helpful!

That sounds wonderful! We can also pick you up if and help you get around if you need. You're also welcome to our guest room (complete with a cat) if you need a place to stay. We've been hitting the 100 degree temperature mark regularly, unfortunately - we'll look forward to meeting you guys if we haven't melted away! Take care, Stacy

Hey Stacy, That was exactly the e-mail I needed to receive! I didn't know how to not over tax my friend Paul who lives in Oceanside, which I now know is very far away from the airport. This is what I think we might do. He will still pick me and Ballou up and get us to you. Then I'm going to take him out to dinner. Then I would love to stay in your guest room. Only one cat!? I guess I'll make due. Then I found a shuttle company that I will have take me back to the airport very early the next day.

No need for that! We'll be more than happy to get you back to the airport. We're always up early ~ I won't take no for an answer! We can always arrange for many, many more cats!

Hey Paul and Stacy, I'm just touching base with you. I leave tomorrow for Milan and will be getting home late Wednesday night. Then on Thursday, when I'm brain dead and jet lagged, I'm going to try to call you both. I want to be sure I have your cell phone #'s in case Ballou and I start getting bumped off of flights or something. (Hmmm. Was I psychic?) While I'm away, he's going to get his travel health certificate, and Cindy's going to buy him a harness for his stressful walk in my arms through the metal detector. I'm totally dreading that! Hopefully, I'll talk to you both for a few minutes the day before THE day. Talk to you then! Beth

So on July 14th, Ballou and I were off. I went to the shelter very early. Boy is it a mess that time of day! I felt very little guilt stepping over the piles of hairballs and who knew what else without cleaning them up as I was on a mission. I approached him with the dreaded harness and put it on him before he knew what hit him. He was zipped up in his carrier and sitting beside me in my car in a matter of minutes. That wasn't so bad! We checked in at West Palm Beach International Airport with no problems at all. Then it was time to go through the metal detector. The security guy was super nice. I told him that I was going to cover Ballou's eyes, walk straight through and then put him directly back in the unzipped, waiting carrier. I also told him that my only concern was that Ballou's harness which had metal in it would set the detectors off. I opened the carrer to show him the harnass which was no longer a problem because it was doing nothing more than decorating the floor of the carrier. Ballou, A.K.A. Houdini, was probably out of that thing before I even got him out of the shelter. Anyway, the flight to Atlanta was great. Ballou cried a little during take off and then again during descent, but he was a great traveler.