COPY FROM www.MelissaGPfight.com
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You can find the first part of the story HERE.
Part 1 ended with me in the airport waiting for my next flight. The 3 hours or so seemed to pass surprisingly quickly. With 1 rolling bag in tow and one on my shoulder I waited for my section boarding number to be called. My plan was to have them take my bag at the gate so I didn’t have to find a place in the luggage area above the seats to put it. To my dismay the gal assured me there was plenty of room and despite me urging them to do so, she would not take the bag.
Inch by inch I made my way down the isle of the plane, trying not to hit the seated passengers nor loose my grip on the heavy bag. The rolling bag is wonderful until the isle way is not wide enough for it and you have to carry a bag that contains 2 weeks of clothes, shoes and everything else. I spy my seat and see that the only place for my bag is 4 rows before my seat. Holding up the line behind me I try to lift the case with one hand. Yeah right, what was I thinking?! Now, I have to put the shoulder bag down (in the isle) and try with two hands to get the bag up and in the cargo area. Three tries later I got it up there, which was the exact moment the guy under the area I am trying to place the bag into asks if I needed help. Great timing on his part! I pick up my shoulder bag and was waiting for the line of people behind me to start clapping.
Few more rows down, I slide into my seat with 2 strangers. Oddly, when I did the pre-check-in online 24 hours prior, I as able to pick a different seat then what I booked with and nobody was around me at that time. The flight was maybe 1/2 full 24hrs ago too, but walking down the isle there were only a handful of seats that were empty. A few people in rows in front of us were able to move to other seats. But when the gal next to me wanted to move, I got yelled at by the flight attendant for standing up. We haven’t even moved from the building yet. I said ‘Can’t you just let this lady move to the open row?’ (directly to our left) and he very sternly told us ‘NO! The plane is moving, you have to sit down’. She told me several times that she was sorry for getting me in trouble. I told her not to worry, I was just happy that I didn’t get kicked off the flight. I really didn’t want to spend any more time at that airport or worse yet get escorted out of the airport.
The flight was a few hours long and all I wanted to do was close my eyes, it had been a very long and stressful day. However, the chatterbox middle-age guy sitting by the window had a different plan. Why, O, Why?! Even the gal next to me, in the middle seat was trying to ignore him and take a nap. He quieted down when we were moving down the runway and then the group of 5 kids filling the row behind us from window to window started in. Asking the hundred and one questions they always do, from ‘how many planes crash in a year?’ to ‘what time will we get there?’. The adults are yelling from across the isle. The one little girl was getting very white and her mom asked if she was going to throw up. Her reply was ‘no, I’m ok’. I’ve used this line way too many times and was waiting to be covered in vomit (since I’m sitting in front of her). Thankfully, her tummy settled down once the plane leveled off after takeoff. And so did mine!
I tried to snuggle in the seat that is stabbing me in the back and will not recline, to get a little peace. Still the kids had a different idea, between their games and kicking the seat I didn’t rest much. When drinks and snacks were offered, I pulled out my PB&J and excessively costly water I got in the vending machine at the airport. This and one more nausea pill got me through the flight.
At the end of the flight a nice person helped me get my bag down and waited for me to get everything together. Loosing energy quickly I think I hit most of the seats with my bags as I got off the flight. The flight attendant was even laughing a little. But I was just happy to get off the plane to put it down and wheel my way to find my family, despite the feeling of fainting. Being hot, tired and lack of nutrition does that to me. Then the excitement hit when I found my family and the GP seemed to disappear for a moment! It had been a long 6 months since I saw them. We made our way through the very large (to me) Vegas Airport. For the record, those people movers still make me dizzy!
It’s hard to find the right balance when it comes to eating and traveling. Each person has to find what will work best for them. But remember, going without food and liquid for your travel day is still not the best idea, in the end. At least it wasn’t when I tried that in the past.
I am happy that I threw caution to the wind and tried to fly again, as this time it all worked out. Hopefully you will get the nerve to do the same, it is simply amazing what we can will out bodies to do at times. Just keep good thoughts and it may just work out. Wishing all of you reading this a wonderful summer!
THE END
