Friday, July 1, 2016

WHILE IT IS FRESH IN MY MEMORY.....

I'm Home....

So how did I get here? Let me tell you that it was not an easy trip. I will never ever repeat what I lived through yesterday!

Normal flight with United is Ontario, CA to Houston, TX to Tampa, FL. Sometimes you go through Denver as your connecting flight. I've been doing this for many years now. So going home I was scheduled to fly through Houston. That's the flight Mark had home on Sunday night but as of Monday they cancelled that evening flight from Houston to Ontario. 

I knew this before I even left California when they sent an email rescheduling my flights. I had three flights to get home. Leave Tampa land in Houston, connection to Denver and then connection to Ontario. I don't mind the three flights but unfortunately there was only a 1 hour layover at each connection. 

I had plenty of time in Tampa because I always arrive about 2 hours before flight time. Flight left on time which was great. I have a very sweet story to share about this flight, melted my heart and brought tears to my eyes. This is what I posted on Facebook yesterday......

"What a great experience on my first flight. Brought me to tears! The young man in the roll in front of me was challenged. He looked to be about 15 years old.
We took off and he yelled Mom, Mom there's a rainbow! It was a gorgeous one and it touched me deeply. I would have never experienced it without him. 
Now in our family we always associate the presence of my mom with rainbows so she was there with me. " 
💛💜💚💙

Arrived in Houston and within 10 minutes they will start boarding for the Denver flight. I was lucky enough to flag down a cart driver who took me. They were already boarding the last group. I got right on because thankfully with Mark's frequent flying they gave me boarding group #1 which I really enjoy.  I had time to pee on the plane before they took off. 

That was a fun flight because I had a 17 year old girl next to me who wanted to talk about her trip to Guatemala. She even gave me a postcard. She shared photos from her phone and we talked the entire flight. She even shared her health issues of being over weight and doing weight watchers. Also she suffers from manic depression so we talked about that too. 

I treated her to one of those box meals and enjoyed her company. However we were delayed a little bit in leaving Houston because her group of 10 people were having issues getting through Customs. So then I had the concern of making my next flight in Denver. 

Well landing in Denver was definitely a challenge for me. First of all I had to go potty. I knew I was heading to the restroom first and if I don't make it to my connection so be it! I arrived at gate 29 and had to get to gate 81. Now Denver has those great moving sidewalks but for me I have to use them as a resting spot. Most people walk them very fast giving them a better head start to their next gate while I stay in place on them. 

The further I want the more concerned I was about getting there in time. I was looking to flag down a cart driver but each cart I saw was up against the wall being charged with no one around them. I reached the end of the line where I had to turn right to go to the next batch of gates. I was getting close and I noticed an attendant with a wheel chair heading towards me. 

I asked him I had much further to go. He said not too far. He had just dropped a woman off at the gate but he said he thinks they were announcing my name and waiting for me! He said you want a ride and I said "yes!" So he took me to my gate and I was the last one to board the plane. Do you know how embarrassing that is? Besides the fact that I was beet red, sweat running down my fact and basically having an asthma attack!!!! 

You know when we were leaving the plane from Houston their were a few other people who were also going to the Ontario flight and one man behind me said "make sure they hold the plane for us!" So of course when I finally arrived he was glad that I made it. Now I didn't hold the plane up, there was still time before they had to offically close the doors but never the less I felt so foolish. 

The nice younger man next to me said "are you okay, should I get you some water?" but I told him I was fun, just needed to catch my breath........

Today I am not moving off of the sofa in my office. I will be getting all caught up on Big Brother since I didn't get a chance to see any of it while in Florida.

14 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

you knew it would be close on those connections. i'm glad you made it...

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I had a similar situation ... I was flying fro. Pensacola to Houston to St. Louis. My flight out of PNS was delayed so I was sure that if miss my connection in Houston ... I was running, dragging my carryon luggage, sure it was to no avail. Turns out they held the flight for me and I received a round of applause as I boarded. I looked like a fright (hot, sweaty, bedraggled) and was embarrassed.

Chatty Crone said...

That was one wild trip - I am glad you made it. Stay home and enjoy BB.

MadSnapper said...

i can't relate since i don't fly but i can feel your pain from what you describe. wow. that was close on he last plane.. glad you made all of them and had people to talk with... that helps me to pass time unless it was someone i did not want to talk to.. glad you are home and on your sofa..

Mara said...

I saw the airport in Chicago a few years ago and was told I had to be at one gate, which was then changed for a different one (in a different terminal) and then it was changed again. Fortunately (well, I say that, but...) my lay-over was over 8 hours, so plenty of time, but I couldn't imagine having to do that right after my surgery and with bad time.

Good you caught them all though. And welcome home!

Love Of Quilts said...

Bless your heart. That was tough. I don't think I could do it. Have fun watching big brother,it going to be good.

Nonnie said...

That stressed me out! I guess I have to look up Big Brother to see what that is about.

Mevely317 said...

Oh dang! Your last experience with the moving sidewalks in Denver sounds eerily similar to what we experienced last December in Vegas. Poor Tom was in such pain and couldn't move fast enough to save his life.

I don't know why air travel has to be so awfully convoluted anymore. Baring an emergency, I'm taking my chances on the highways from now on.

PS - I loved your story about the young man and the rainbow!

Terra said...

That sounds like a bad dream; well, you made the connection so it ended well. When I need to fly I aim for direct flights only; connections can be full of unpleasant surprises. Nice story about the young man and the rainbow and his joy.

betty said...

What an adventure you had, but I think God was with you every step of the way and put the angels there right when you needed them. I am so glad you got home safely!

betty

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

That sounds eventful!

Joyce said...

It's so great when people are kind. I'm glad you made all those tight connections. I have vowed not to run in airports anymore, so if I miss a flight I'll just have to figure out a Plan B : )

Claudya Martinez said...

I'm sorry you had to deal with that kind of stress. I'm glad that you found kind people along the way.

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Oh girl, Glad you made it!!

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
Southern California, United States
Follow Just Breathe

Labels

Wednesday Hodgepodge (557) Family (241) Birthdays (160) Vacation (138) Funny (131) Tuesday 4 Meme (127) Tuesday 4 (104) James (101) Skye (99) Post It (95) Movies (89) Christmas (67) JP (61) Random (40) Award (39) Florida (32) Easter (29) Health (29) Thanksgiving (28) Flowers (23) Mother's Day (20) Vegas (20) tag (20) Father's Day (19) God (19) My Dad (19) Ornaments (19) Friend (18) Anniversary (17) Europe (17) Friday Fragments (17) I've Got Nothing (17) New Year (17) Halloween (16) Chicago (15) Meet Me on Monday (15) Oscars (15) 4th of July (14) Doctor (14) Friday Fill-In (14) Mammoth Lakes (14) Sky (14) VALENTINE'S DAY (14) Debby's Tree (13) For Your Tears (13) Montana (13) Giveaway (12) House (12) Recipes (12) 9/11 (11) Memorial Day (11) Paris (11) This or That (11) Wedding (11) Asthma (10) Bake (10) Carlsbad (10) Holiday (9) Just Because (9) Labor Day (9) Love (9) Rainbow (9) Shopping (9) Sick (9) Disney World (8) Round Robin (8) Veterans Day (8) Fat Ass Friday (7) Frustration (7) London (7) Mark (7) Plants (7) heart (7) 2011 (6) Apples (6) Birthday (6) Christmas Tree (6) Disneyland (6) Fall (6) Houston (6) Loss (6) Miscellaneous (6) PINTEREST (6) Pictures (6) Prayer (6) Thankful (6) Video (6) bowling (6) Car (5) Change (5) Company (5) Earth Day (5) Following (5) Help (5) One Word (5) Pittsburgh (5) Princess Diana (5) Quiz (5) Spring (5) Sundays In My City (5) Super Bowl (5) The Flower Fields (5) Time (5) Wizard of Oz (5) 2 on Tuesday (4) Blogiversary (4) Breast Cancer Awareness (4) COVID-19 (4) Christmas 2012 (4) Christmas 2013 (4) Christmas 2015 (4) Down (4) Grandparents (4) Housework (4) Memory Monday (4) Monday Smiles (4) Murphy's Law (4) On Our Way (4) Remembrance (4) Wine (4) AMERICAN IDOL (3) Blog (3) Cats and Dogs (3) Christmas 2020 (3) Christmas 2021 (3) Clouds (3) Crockpot (3) Dogs (3) Don't grow old (3) Fire (3) Food (3) Gift (3) In Memoriam (3) Italy (3) La Jolla (3) Ladybug (3) May Day (3) Movie (3) Moving in (3) Museum (3) NO-REPLY (3) New York (3) Pizza (3) Reader (3) Royal Wedding (3) San Diego Zoo (3) Signs (3) St.Patrick's Day (3) Summer (3) Weight (3) star (3) 2010 (2) Anxiety (2) Babysitting (2) Big Brother (2) Bodie (2) Bristlecone (2) Bucket List (2) Christmas 2014 (2) Christmas 2017 (2) Christmas 2018 (2) Christmas 2022 (2) Christmas 2023 (2) Cowboy (2) Deer (2) Fishing (2) Five Questions (2) Friday Foto Friends (2) Full Moon (2) Goals (2) Graduations (2) Hallmark (2) Heavyhearted (2) Jack's Tree (2) Jay's Gourmet (2) Knee Replacement (2) Leaves (2) Less is More (2) MAYDAY (2) Meme (2) Mini Cooper (2) Mission Inn (2) Mojo (2) Mountains (2) NYC (2) Old Age (2) Ouch (2) Out to Live (2) Party (2) Potluck (2) Presents (2) Purchased (2) Ranunculus (2) Robot (2) Royal Baby (2) Safari Park (2) Show and Tell (2) Simplify (2) Slap me (2) Snow (2) Sorrow (2) Stranger (2) TBB Asks (2) Tears (2) Things to do (2) Trees (2) Weekend Wrap-Up (2) Wilson Winery (2) '09 card exchange (1) 000 (1) 2016 (1) 2020 (1) 3 On Thursday (1) 48 Questions (1) All My Children (1) Always something (1) Ankle (1) Antiques (1) Aria (1) Bath (1) Billy Elliot (1) Bird (1) Bra (1) Brookfield Zoo (1) COPD (1) Call the Midwife (1) Candles (1) Celebration (1) Chairs (1) Christmas '09 (1) Christmas 2016 (1) Christmas 2019 (1) Church (1) Citizens arrest (1) City lights (1) Clocks (1) Cows (1) DMV (1) DVD (1) Discombobulated (1) Donations (1) Downton Abbey (1) F.Y.I. (1) Fair (1) Farmers Market (1) Favorite Things (1) Featured (1) Finley (1) Flag Day (1) Football (1) Getty (1) Giving (1) Good Morning (1) Grandson (1) Grapes (1) Happy New Year (1) Hoover Dam (1) Horseback Riding (1) IKEA (1) Idol (1) Idyllwild (1) Independence Day (1) Jesus (1) Joshua Tree National Park (1) Julian Bakery (1) June (1) LaJolla (1) Lavender Festival (1) Lifetime (1) Lost (1) Low Carb Treats (1) Madness (1) Mellow Yellow Monday (1) Moment of Silence (1) Music (1) Nana (1) Negative (1) Nipples (1) Nobody Is Home (1) Note Book Journey (1) Nurses (1) Oak Glen (1) One Word 2022 (1) One of those days (1) Owls (1) PT (1) Pinecones (1) Playing Hooky (1) Post 1 (1) President (1) Pretty in Pink (1) Puppy (1) Queen Mary (1) Quick Takes (1) Randomness (1) Regrets (1) Ringling (1) Rock/Hard Place (1) Roosters (1) Route 66 (1) SOS (1) Sale (1) Salt and Pepper Shakers (1) San Diego Harbor (1) Saturday 9 (1) She Loves Me (1) Silver Lining (1) Snail Mail (1) Spam (1) Speak English (1) Spider (1) Spin Cycle (1) Stamps (1) Stars (1) Stoned (1) Summer Lovin' (1) Sunday Stealing (1) Sunset (1) Surprise (1) Survey (1) Swim (1) TBT (1) TP (1) Temecula CA (1) Templates (1) Thank You (1) The Getty Villa (1) The Sistine Chapel (1) Time Out (1) Treasures (1) Trends (1) Trying. Something New (1) Twilight Saga (1) Two On Tuesday (1) USA (1) VOTE 2012 (1) Wicked (1) Willow Tree (1) Windsor Tea (1) Winner (1) Worldwide Candle Lighting (1) Zoo (1) button (1) closet (1) cottage (1) digging (1) handkerchief (1) karma (1) memory (1) tests (1) webkinz (1)