Just a few minutes ago, I did something that I thought I would not do at all this year. Something I have done at least four times each year for the last four years – but not so far this year and, as I thought – not at all in 2005…I booked a vacation.

From September 8th to September 12th, I will be in Canton, Ohio for SPOH – or South Park Ohio – our annual gathering of the members of the South Park Digest. I have been to Ohio twice before: Once in October, 2003 when we all stayed at my friend Mek’s house, and again in September, 2004 when I stayed at my friends Tom and Carla’s house, which is once again the site of this year’s event.

To be honest, I could not afford a plane ticket from JFK to LaGuardia Airport right now, but this vacation was made possible by a $261.89 credit I had on Delta Air Lines from a flight I cancelled last year. Without that credit, this would probably have been a vacation-less year – but since I had to use my credit by November 20, 2005 – I decided that visiting Ohio and seeing my dear South Park family would be the perfect choice to use it on.

Normally by now, I would have traveled at least two or three times this year, but thanks to financial constraints – I have been grounded. I knew I had this credit, but everywhere I wanted to go, like Casper, Wyoming to attend my friends Terry and Tish’s wedding, Tarzana, California see my ex-girlfriend Sandy – or to Juneau, Alaska to visit my friend Montel – would have cost me my credit plus a few hundred dollars, which I simply do not have. But thanks to advance booking and the very helpful people at Delta Airlines – I have an absolutely free trip to look forward to, a $43.59 voucher to use on a future trip – and 2,194 Delta SkyMiles to put toward another free trip to the destination of my choice.

Besides the fact that I am excited about going away, I find it very interesting that for the first time – I will be out of New York City during the anniversary of the events of September 11th. Normally, I would be working for OEM during the event, escorting dignitaries to interviews – and helping to plan the biggest news event of the year, but now that I no longer work for the City of New York – I can head out of town and mourn the day with those closest to me – who will no doubt reflect with me as Douglas Farnum’s name is read along with the other 2,748 names that were lost here in New York City on that tragic Tuesday.

Now that I have booked the flight and I have a confirmation number, I can once again have that giddy anticipation of hopping on a plane and traveling across this great nation of ours to see both my country and my friends. I can once again count down the days until I hear my favorite words, “Flight attendants, prepare for takeoff.” – and I can yet again pack my bags and disappear from the life I have here to enjoy a few days of much needed R&R…

…only 49 days to go.