COPY FROM www.MelissaGPfight.com
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Vegas was our travel destination once we found out that was where the rest of my family was headed for 2 weeks!
For 8 weeks I planned the details to drive down, where to stay along
our route down, the places we (okay my GP Tummy) could eat at and all
the rest that goes into this.
We got down to 4 weeks out and my husband
finds out that he can not go, due to work obligations! This means that
he is no longer driving down, so I can ride along as passenger. It is a 2
day drive from out starting point, so despite my best desires, I would
not drive by myself through the desert. In the end I would have to find a
flight.
Living in a large town, this would not be a
problem for most. We are not ‘most’ people. The town we live in has 2
grocery stores that close at 10pm and you can count the number of
restaurants (I use that term loosely) on one hand. However, we do have
an airport….. um crop dust runway, maybe is a better picture.
I found that I could get a flight out of
town, to the large town next to us (4 hr drive) for a price that could
not beet driving. Yet, my husband wanted to drive me. And the more I
researched the plane I would be on, the more it seemed like a crop
duster. From what I read there would be about 8 seats to the plane and
luggage was obviously limited. For a 2 week trip, I really would like to
take some clothes with me and maybe a change of shoes! So okay, I was
game for the ride to the next town on the day that I had to fly out.
Thinking I had my plan, again, the hubby put
a kink in it. He didn’t think he could take me. Really?! This was
feeling like the movie Groundhog Day. To break the curse, I booked my 2
flights and that was the end of that! Or was it?
The week of me needing to go to the airport I
kept asking if he would be able to get away from work to take me to the
airport or if I should schedule a time with the only cab company we
have in town. You guessed it! He would take me. I had 10 min before I
needed to be at the airport and I called his phone for the 2nd
time with no answer. I called the cab company and they would not be
able to get to me in time. Ugg!! I do have to give my husband credit, he
works very hard as a Store Manager and it is very hard for me to ever
get away. He does have a heart of gold and honestly tried his best with
all of this.
The hubby showed up in time for me to make
it to the airport before the plane was scheduled to leave. The now
frantic me made it to the desk to check in (no pre-checkin via web) and
through TSA. Luckily this time I didn’t have smoothy stuff or any other
liquids. Just a lot of protein bars, tea bags and a nut butter sandwich.
We didn’t have much time to do our goodbys, but that was probably for
the best.
I went by what the web-site said and had my
gate check-in bag and my personal bag for a carry on. I was advised
after TSA that I could not keep my personal item. Which of course has my
purse in it, laptop, camera and other fragile stuff besides the Holy
Grail … nausea meds! I was not happy, but looking at the said crop
duster outside, I understood. She said I could have a very small lap
item, like a purse. So, she let me dig mine out and I quickly filled it
with my nausea pills, mints and a protein bar along with my wallet. I
could live with that, crossing my fingers that the laptop does not
break.
The lobby felt like a very small dentist
office, with all 7 of us and 2 little kids, very anxious to get this
over with. At this point I am not sure if a root canal would be better.
The still not so happy gal counted ‘all’ of us and informed us there
are only 6 seats! WTH? I NEED to get to the next town. She looked at the
2 with the kids, plus a young daughter, 1 on crutches and a young
couple. Looking back at me, she said that it looks like I would need to
be the co-pilot. I thought she was joking and played along, despite her
not finding humor in this at all. She opened the door and I was asked
to go first as the co-pilot. Haha, I thought. Having to duck my head to
get in, hunched over I could still count there were only 6 seats, no
bathroom and a seat next to the pilot that was empty. Really?! Was
this happening? Or did I take too much medication the prior night and
this is a very bad dream?! To top it off, I could not take my purse
that I held up the flight for, so I could give up the larger ‘personal
item’. Even to beg and plead did not work. Bu I was able to grab a
handful of mints for my pocket and stole a vomit bag as I made my way to
the co-pilot seat.
As I sat looking out the front of the plane
(haha .. it has wings and an engine, guess it’s an airplane) I thought
about yelling and having security haul me away. I decided to be good.
If the kid in the back can do this, then I can over-come gastroparesis
for 2 hours and do this. Right?! I moved my eyes around to see peddles
on the floor as well as a steering wheel very close to me, knobs, lights
and dials all over in front of me. As he moved the peddles and wheel,
it moved on my side. So I could not stretch out, my seat does not go
back, this wasn’t looking good. At this point I still wasn’t sure my
nausea treatments and will power could get me through.
Sporting SeaBands on my wrists, a pill of Nauzene, mints in my pocket and a vomit bag in my lap, I was ready to do … something.
The pilot was nice, I didn’t chat at all,
figured he needs to fly the plane and not worry about me. For 2 hours I
sat in one spot. No place to stretch the feet or twist or turn. Sun
glaring in my eyes, I wished I had my sunglasses. The take off was a
little harsh, but the rest of the flight was very beautiful. Most of the
way we could see the ground, all snow covered. The last ¼ of the flight
was clouds above and below us. For awhile we were in them as we were
needed to descend. Sure glad he knew where he was going, since the GPS
system was not helping me much. I can only assume this is when you just
need ‘faith’. We dropped below and I could see the runway. Wishing I
could use the break peddle, like a car, as we got closer. I grabbed the
arm rest instead. Too many flights I have been on the touchdown was hard
and I would hit my head. This was the best pilot ever! I wanted to kiss
and hug him. I didn’t go into the windshield, I didn’t hit my head and
if I wasn’t sitting in the seat next to him, I would not have known
landed except the sound of the tires on the pavement.
Now I am at the airport waiting for the next
flight. 1 protein bar down and a $3 bottle of water so I can take my
next pill, 3 hours of mindless rest, then I should be ampted for the
next one. This time there will be 28 rows and a family waiting for me.
THIS WAS ONE LUCKY FLIGHT !!
(that I made it on board as well as my GP nausea did okay)
TO BE CONTINUED….
