I went to work for a couple hours in the morning, but was able to leave to go to the airport. After getting to the airport and breezing through security, I checked in for my flight and then was looking for some lunch. I had no idea what I wanted, and wasn't really in the mood for anything too heavy. I didn't get far from my gate, though, when I found the legendary Cousin's barbeque in the airport. I'd heard rumors for years that one existed in the airport but had never seen it or known anyone who had seen it. But, there it was! A Cousin's! The best barbeque in all of the Metroplex, and in the most convenient location. Without any contemplation I walked directly for it. Sure, I had Sonny Bryan's on Tuesday, but that's Dallas barbeque, a nice try and still pretty good, but so far short of the highest potential of barbeque greatness that Cousin's reaches. And, it was just in front of me, behind the glass. I took no time to look at the menu, knowing exactly what I wanted and immediately ordered. I got my normal sliced brisket sandwich, which is great, as is all of their meat. I was so excited I couldn't think straight, asking for French Toast instead of Texas Toast (I was already thinking ahead about getting a bowl full of perfectly fried and seasoned okra). Unfortunately, they don't offer okra at the airport, probably because it has to be made fresh every time to preserve its impeccable texture. Still, undeterred, I got the potato salad, decided not to get beans, and then paid. Being in an airport, I expected to pay more, but it was worth $10 for a sandwich, toast, potato salad, and a drink, I would've paid $20 for it (and still submitted my receipt so that I could be reimbursed by my employer).

I headed to a table - the contemporary bar table and chairs offering nowhere near the Texan ambiance in their normal establishments - and sat down, excited about eating it. And it was so good! The exceptional trimming of the meat (almost no fat along the edges whatsoever), the tasty barbeque sauce, and the perfect flavor of the brisket made me laugh at the idea that just two days before I considered Sonny Bryan's an acceptable version of Texas Barbeque. Cousin's made Sonny Bryan's look like the kind of barbeque that could only be appreciated by someone from across the country who has no clear expectation of what barbeque should look like and a childlike appreciation for the taste. Sonny Bryan's is still good, though, and much better than anywhere outside of Texas, which is what makes Cousin's extremely high quality so remarkable. Everything about the food was almost perfect, and if I had been able to get okra, it would've been too great for me to even express.

Anyway, it was a great end to the trip, my flight back was fine. I got on a bus to downtown and once I got off it took me a few minutes to realize the best way back home, but the weather was nice and it wasn't a long walk. I was quite tired and was glad to be home and to sleep in my own bed again.