Back to the Land of Lincoln

I flew to Chicago yesterday (Korea time), today (Chicago time). It was my 10th trip across the Pacific Ocean, not counting flying to Hawaii in 1990 and back in 1993. It was a thankfully-uneventful 14-hour nonstop flight. I had a window seat, and no one sat in the middle seat, so I had a little more room than I usually have on these long flights. Since I left Seoul in the evening, it was dark outside during the first half of the flight. However, just as we were flying over Alaska, the sun started to peek over the horizon. The light was perfect as we made our way over the Alaska Mountain Range. I looked out the window for over an hour, transfixed by the rugged, snow-covered mountains changing from dark blue to white to pink to orange as the sun came over the horizon. This is why I ask for a window seat. Interior Alaska in winter is not something I'm likely ever to see from the ground.Now I'm in Chicago. It's a very short trip this time, but I'm happy to be able to spend Christmas with my family.