Travel Day

So this is it…travel day has finally arrived. I was up by 7AM. Ran a load of wash, watered the plants, finished packing, did some yard work and finally jumped in the shower by 9 to leave the house by 10. My flight is out of Columbus and I like plenty of time to get there and a relaxed time getting through the airport process.

Cincinnati Time 11:30 AM

Drive to Columbus was uneventful. I am grateful for the overcast day since the air conditioning in the van is out. I arrived at the Columbus Airport around 11:30, checked in and then headed to Max & Erma’s for lunch. Sat down to order and was checking voice mail when I heard a message from US Air. My flight to Philly was canceled, I was now due to leave Columbus at 6 PM, fly through San Antonio and get in to Anchorage at god knows what time!! What??!! The gate agent didn’t say a thing.

So I left the restaurant, hoofed it back to the gate agent, she assured me that the flight to Philly was now back on and I was good to go!! Whew…I really don’t want to get in to Anchorage in the middle of the night!!

Cincinnati Time 4:00 PM

Well, looks like I jinxed myself. Boarded the plane, pulled away from the gate and then we were told there was a weather delay in Philly so we sat on the tarmac for an hour. I actually went to the flight attendant and asked her how long they could legally keep us on the plane like that. She said 3 hours and I rolled my eyes. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I hate sitting on a plane going nowhere!!! After an hour we went back to the gate, I rebooked through Phoenix so now here I sit, still in Columbus, waiting for my 6:00 PM flight to Phoenix. My arrival time in Anchorage has gone from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM!!! I am now keeping my thoughts to myself…no more jinxes.

10:17 PM Cincinnati Time/7:17 PM Phoenix Time

What I would give for a king-sized over stuffed bed right now. I am so tired and I still have 5.5 hours of flying ahead of me!!! At least I made it this far. Gotta keep looking on the bright side!!

4:30 AM Cincinnati Time/12:30 AM Anchorage Time

Finally, I am here!! And there is Karen’s smiling face, waiting patiently for me. I didn’t sleep at all on the plane, but now that I’m here I feel refreshed and it is time to wake up…Cincinnati time. The skies are overcast, but it is clearly daylight here in Anchorage….welcome to the Land of the Midnight Sun!

5:30 AM Cincinnati Time/ 1:30 AM Anchorage Time

We’re here, quietly entering the house as Ben and Gretchen are asleep. Karen points me to the bed and all that energy is gone. It takes less than 30 seconds to fall asleep.