North Carolina ~ Day 5, the trip home

Lonnnnnnnng entry, but one that I didn't want to forget.  In short, my trip home was a lonnnnng nightmare, but, I made it!  For details, read on:

As I wrote yesterday, my goodbye with Dad was tender and sweet.  I drove away in tears, thankful that I was leaving him with my cousin, Kent.  I had allowed myself three hours to get to Raleigh and turn in the rental car, then another two hours before my flight. I actually had given myself an extra two hours of wait time at the airport, if everything went well, and was slightly irritated at myself for wasting that two extra hours that I could have spent with Dad and Kent.  However, as it turned out, I was wise to have given myself that time because I could have never guessed what the rest of my day would be like! 

I drove straight to the airport with ease in less than 2 hours, even with crazy busy traffic.   I pulled into Raleigh/Durham Airport with ease and then the trouble began.  When I had landed last Tuesday, that the shuttleride to the rental car place seemed extremely long and I remembered thinking, "I hope I can find this place when I get back".  Little did I know that the rental car place was not even on airport property.  That mighthave been a good thing for them to tell me before I drove away in their car.  I followed the rental car return signs at the airport and found no company for my car.  Over.  And over.  And over.  For 40 minutes.  With an airport security guy's directions.  With some guy out at a gate at the runway where planes were flying in over our head.  I searched everywhere!  Through the airport, back on to I-40, again and again, five times. The number to call was an 800#, so I knew that they couldn't help me.  Finally, I found some local advertisement and a very kind old black man stayed on the phone with me and, literally, drove me one step at a time until I pulled in.  I was in tears, thanking him for his help.

Airport security at RDU Airport is even tighter than SLC.  WOW.  I got the whole treatment, and they went through my bags.  I'd brought some sticks from a holly tree at my grannie's parents' cemetery because Quayd has wished for Holly wood to make Harry Potter wands with.  (They are mentioned in the HP books, I guess.)  It was worth the extra effort to see his face when I gave them to him.

And from then on, the trip could be summed up in four words, "Hurry Up.  And Wait."

When I got to the gate, the flight was already delayed 40 minutes.  I had no idea that almost all SWA flights had been delayed because of the big incident that's been on the news all week. I'd called SWA several times with questions about my carry-on luggage to double check that my things would fit, that I would be able to get help lifting the luggage into the overhead bins (because of my shoulder) and that no cranky flight attendant would tell me that I had to check things at the last minute.  I'd been assured that they'd love to help me.  Hmmm. 

I was boarding pass A30, the thirtieth person to board the plane. I asked a man in line if he'd be willing to lift my luggage up when we boarded and he said, "We'll see."  Huh?  When we got on the plane, he literally raced to the back, leaving me with a piece of luggage that I could not lift up into the overhead.  I stepped into my seat area for a sec looking for a man who might help when the flight attendant snapped that I needed to put the luggage above.  I said, "I'm sorry, but I have an injury and am unable to lift anything over my shoulders.  I was looking for someone to help."  She gave this big disgusted sigh/moan, rolled her eyes, then growled, "Next time, CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE!!!" She loaded the piece up into the overhead storage, grabbed my laptop bag and threw it up there too.  I was sitting in the bulkhead.  Before she grabbed it, I was going to pull my Kindle out of the top of the bag and she said that I could not hold anything in that seat!  PERIOD!  Excuse me? 

Now, normally, I'm very friendly and cheerful.  But, when someone is rude, I'm not afraid to ask, "Excuse me, but who pooped in your oatmeal this morning?" However, I was in such an emotional state... saying goodbye to Dad, the rental car mess, the extra security check, the delayed flight and having not slept the night before, I just sat down and burst into tears.  With my iPod headphones over my ears, I cried from that moment through the take-off and for the first half hour of our five hour flight. That's so NOT me.

Later in the very turbulent flight, a man got up to use the bathroom... the only passenger on the plane who was standing at the time.  The flight attendant had not noticed him until he came out of the bathroom, announced over the speaker, "Ladies and Gentlemen,  the seatbelt sign is turned on for a reason! STAY IN YOUR SEATS!"  Now, I realize that she was doing her job in keeping us safe.  But, every eye in the plane was on the man as he walked through the aisle to his seat.  I was so embarrassed for him.  A woman seated on our aisle commented about how rude this flight attendant was.  She, obviously, woke up on the wrong side of the plane!

When we landed, a kind gentleman offered to grab my luggage overhead. I raced from one terminal to the next with my two bags in hand, arriving at the gate, literally, as they were beginning the boarding.  We got situated and we waited.  And waited. About 45 minutes later, the flight attendant announced that there was a delay.  A few minutes later, the pilot came on and announced that one of the baggage carts had accidentally crashed into our plane's engine, making a 16" gauge in it.  They were working on getting it repaired and then we would leave.  Fifteen minutes later, he came on and told us that now, they had to take photos of the repair and send them to Dallas so that the FAA could approve the repair and take-off.  Fifteen minutes later, they told us that we could get off the plane and wait at the gate inside the airport.  It was 93 degrees in Pheonix.  The terminal was hot.  The plane, at least, was very cool, so I opted to just wait in my seat.  Then, this awesome and wonderful flight attendant, Matt, announced that now, we had toget off the plane, but we could leave our luggage on.  Everyone deboarded.   Ten minutes later, Matt announced that we all had to go back on the plane to get our luggage off because the plane had been grounded for the time. 

About this time, my cellphone rang and it was the airport shuttle dispatch calling to ask me if I knew why the plane was delayed and what time I'd be landing.  She explained that she could not locate another driver scheduled until Sunday morning at 8AM.  I had just overheard the SWA people discussing the possibilities of us all spending the night in Phoenix and taking a morning flight.  So.  The shuttle girl told me that I would have to get my own ride home or spend the night in SLC and they'd pick me up at an airport hotel.  Lovely. I thought that their advertisement for 24/7 shuttles meant 24/7 shuttles.  Oh well.  She was friendly and apologetic and at this point, I was ready to just change my flight to the next morning regardless. I was hungry and tired and anxious!

We waited.  And waited.  Finally, they announced that the SLC passengers were to go to a different gate, that a new plane was coming in at 9 and that we would leave as soon as that plane landed and the check-in luggage was transferred into it.  A cheer from everyone.  We all moved to the new gate.  No sooner than we were situated there, having hauled all of our belongings to the new terminal gate, they announced that we were to go back to the original gate because we would be using the original plane after all.  They announced that the plane that was grounded for more repairs ten minutes ago was now ready to fly.  Go figure.

I was posting little Facebook updates on my phone to pass the time when I got a surprise call from a friend from our valley.  He and his business partner had just landed at the SLC airport. He asked if our issues were resolved yet and offered to wait in Salt Lake until I arrived so that they could bring me home.  HAPPINESS!! 

We all went back to the original gate, they boarded us by name. It was now well after 10PM.  I should have been home by now. Matt, the amazing flight attendant, entertained us for the next hour and half.... until the minute we landed, asking trivia questions, telling jokes, giving themost entertaining presentation of emergency procedures ever.  At take off, he literally threw the peanuts on the floor at the front of the plane.  With the thrust from the take-off, the peanuts slid down that main aisle of the plane all the way to the back with aisle passengers grabbing and passing them out.  It was non-stop laughter and entertainment until his final word as we got off the plane in SLC.  I heart Matt!

The flight wasvery turbulent and the snowstorm that we had first been told we were two hour ahead of was coming down fullsteam!  Dave and Kelly were waiting for me at the doors of the airport in their truck and we drove at about 35 -50 mph in the storm from Salt Lake City until we got into our valley.  They insisted on driving me all the way home, even though Doug had offered to meet us.  Even with the winter driving conditions, it was great to be with friendly faces and to know that I was almost there!  We pulled in at 1:36AM.  CRAZY!

Now, I say often that from every challenge comes something of greater benefit.  I have been looking for the good in this situation.  First, the cranky flight attendant really was disturbing.  I kept thinking that this woman would have cost SWA a lot of customers if she'd been a part of the fiasco that took place on the second plane. Rather, Matt had us laughing and so entertained that we would have been happy to fly another few hours to get home.  He was a delight.  Customer service is what it's all about!  Love that!

Second, I got to spend some time with Dave and catch up on his family on the drive home, which was awesome!  His friend, Kelly, is neighbors with a man that Doug and I credit for our ever getting engaged.  We've not seen him in years and it was so great to hear about his family. What a blessing that Dave happened to check his FB as he turned on his phone!

Third, when I got home, Doug and I sat up talking and looking at pictures alone, which would have been much more chaotic if the kids had have still been up.  That was great! 

Fourth, I was able to use that time thinking about how some things matter in life and others are just little bumps in the road.  We can react or we can roll with them.  It was a good lesson in patience.

Last, when you're planning on seeing your family, planning on getting a good nights sleep next to your sweetheart and waking up to make cinnamon rolls and watch LDS General Conference and the possibility of something so "normal" (a tradition in our family for 35 years) not happening occurs, it makes you really think and appreciate it all the more.  When we woke up Sunday morning, I couldn't get enough of the babes and Doug.  I enjoyed making the cinnamon rolls more than ever.  I watched the clock all morning, thinking, "I could still be in Phoenix.  I could be on a plane right now..."   It was grand to be home!

I've spoken with Southwest and told them of my experience, thanking the for having an employee like Matt, who turned an ugly mess into entertainment and good memories.  (I wish I'd have recorded his stand-up act. He really was great.)  They thanked me for the input.  I've also talked with the owner of the shuttle, who'll be refunding that fee since they weren't able to get me home, as promised.  In the end, it was all good. 

Last night, Liza and Buddy, Kelly and Zaylee came for dinner and Family Home Evening, where I told the tales of my North Carolina adventure and shared all of the photographs.  Liza has decided that she's going with me on my next trip to see Dad.  She's starting her savings for the trip today.  The girls had plenty of questions and felt the connection to their roots, as well.  It was exciting.  Doug just beams as he loves my native american/southern roots as much as I do.  It's great to be home and greater to have a trip in the future to look forward to.  I talked with my dad a few times yesterday.  He sounded so good. i miss him.  The babes are out of school for a week long spring break. We have planned nothing spectacular yet, but are trying to decide on a few things to do close to home to make it memorale.  We'll see what the week brings. Life is good. 

Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. 

Comments

[Pamela K.]

I'm getting a migraine just reading your post about the snafus on your ride home. :-P I'm so glad to hear that Liza will be coming with you next time you go back. It will be wonderful to have one of your dad's grandkids for him to show off. :-)

[USE]

Wow! What a ride! Our last few flights have all had issues. It IS good when you finally get to where you are going and then get HOME! Glad the trip was worth it!

[susan]

you did tell SWA about the first stew didn't you...she needed to be fired...and like yesterday!