The Long Journey Home...

I got up to my alarm. I shaved, showered and got dressed. Then I finished packing. I did a quick review to make sure I didn’t forget anything and then went downstairs.

I had a cup of Jake’s special coffee. I said goodbye to Whiskey and then the rest of us left for the airport.

I made my goodbyes (always bittersweet) and headed into the airport. I got my return tickets, made it through my pat down and headed to the bookstore. I picked up a book for the ride home and bought a bottle of water.

It was about 8:30 a.m. and my flight didn’t leave until 10:09, so I got a sausage biscuit with the optional egg and cheese and a cup of coffee. I ate breakfast reading my new book. Then I went and sat in one of the rockers (I love those rockers) and read some more.

A while later, I heard somebody crying. Puzzled, I looked around. There was a young woman, sitting about five or six rockers down, sobbing her heart out. She turned and looked at me, with tears running down her face. I felt bad, but also embarrassed. So, I moved away and left her to cry in peace.

I went to the terminal (about 110 feet away – it’s a small airport). It was close to boarding time (9:39 a.m.) but I noticed there was no plane. 10:00 a.m. came and went, but still no plane! Finally, they announced our plane had been delayed at its last stop due to mechanical difficulties.

They said that anybody who had a 1:00 p.m. or later flight connection would be okay, but anybody with less should come to the desk. Mine was 1:00 p.m. exactly, but I joined the line anyway. Before I could get up there though, (I was still five people back) the plane showed up. After the incoming people off-loaded, they hurried us on and we took off.

Of course, we landed at one end of the airport (Gate E-15) and I had to get to the other end for departure. So, I ran.

Sidebar: Well, I ran as best as I can run. Sort of more like a race-walk… I was still winded.

When I got to my gate (B-13), the plane was still there and it wasn’t yet 1:00 p.m. But, the lady said I was too late and they had booked me on a special flight at gate C-3.

So, I limped over there. I figured I need some energy, so I bought a Coke on the way. I got to my gate and there was a plane there! Hurray!!! I drank my soda and read my book. When it was time to board, nothing… I checked and they had changed the time to 3:15 p.m. take-off. WTF?

Then they changed it to 3:35 p.m. They announced the flight crew that was supposed to fly us home were all still in Nashville! Then they changed it to 4:15 p.m., but they said they had a replacement crew right here, right now, except for a pilot.

Sidebar: By this time, I was resigned to my fate. Plus, I thought it would be a good idea to have a pilot…

Finally, we had a pilot, but they had to record the new crew and flight plan with the FFA. We were taxing away from the gate at 5:15 p.m.

Sidebar: They had put me in first class. While I appreciated getting coffee and snacks whenever I wanted, IT WAS NOT WORTH IT!!!

It was a little after 7:00 p.m. when we finally landed in Detroit, in the dark. I stopped in the restroom (too much coffee) and then went to collect my checked bag.

It took quite a while until the suitcases for my plane coughed up. My fellow passengers finally collected their bags and left. Mine never showed. So, I went to the American Airlines office and asked where it was (all my pills were in that suitcase). They said their records showed it had arrived here. So, minions went out to search. They finally found it on another carousel!

I went out into the cold and fetched my truck.

It was way too late to make the dinner I’d planned but I was starving, so I stopped at the Burger King on Plymouth Road and ordered a Whopper meal. Just after I ordered, I saw the sign for a deal on chicken nuggets. Damn!

Sidebar: I don’t mind the Whopper, but I dislike Burger King fries. So, a couple of orders of chicken nuggets would have been cheaper and better!

I pulled into the drive and off-loaded the suitcase. I treated the cat and pulled the truck in. I ate dinner at the kitchen table. Then I went to unpack my suitcase. Sure enough, the cat had barfed on the bed. Perfect!

I put the bedspread in some water to soak (she had apparently done it early on as it was dried on, not wet). I got out a blanket, unpacked my suitcase and then went to sleep.