As you all know – or whoever may by chance be reading this – I had my first challenge of being away for a longer period of time from my beloved “boys” and home.
This post is more about how I got to my destination – how I got home from my destination and how grateful I was for that friggin’ destination to be over!!!
I left Sunday for a business trip in Chicago – my flight at 11.25am. Like a diligent traveller, I arrive at the airport – two hours prior to departure. Heck – it was Sunday – who knows -maybe everyone and their mother was leaving Canada that day and the line ups could be long. Ya…no – breezed through security. What a waste!!
I sit in the airport in the international lounge (if you can call it that) eating a greasy breakfast and surfing free wifi (thank you Ottawa airport for having FREE wifi!)
I look at my watch…hmmm – we should be boarding now. That notion was short lived – in typical Air Canada fashion – the flight was delayed – in typical O’Hare Airport fashion – crying weather issues. Hell a sparrow farts two counties over and they shut that place down.
Ok – Ok – the weather was bad – so I found out -tornadoes- winds – locust – I was happy to be delayed.
Remember flight leaving 11:25 – so 12:25 comes and goes – 1:25 and so on and so on and they’ll two friends – sorry side tracked.
Oh well -if my flight is cancelled there is the 5:00 pm – oh that has actually been cancelled – ok think think you need to be in Chicago for 9:00am tomorrow – Eureka!!! I “protected” a seat on the 6:00am flight – mine will surely get cancelled if the weather is that bad.
I meander to the podium – to check out the situation – the flight crew is there – “hey what’s the news?” I ask – “Tornadoes in Chicago” they reply – “Oh dear – guess we’ll be getting cancelled?” I say hopefully – the pilot – lovely young woman – ” No – there is no one who wants to get to Chicago more than me – I get to go home when I get there and have not been home for a bit” she says.
So I wait – and wait – head to “powder my nose” – and walking back to my seat – run into the pilot – “Get ready” she says ” they are about to announce boarding – we have a window”. “Excellent (shit!!) I reply – don’t get us killed” I joke – she smiles.
Easy take off – great flight – until approach that is. Of course by this time the plane is half empty. People with connections made other arrangements. Only the die hard (idiots who have to be there) are on the plane.
Then comes the approach – well I have to say – it was uhhhh bumpy??? rocky?? what is the word?? SCARY -we are bucking and weaving – and lurching – the poor young man next to me wakes up “Oh – we are landing?” – “No sweetie” I reply – “We will not be landing this time” ” But the gear is down – I can see the ground” he says. “Listen to engines – she is not slowing – she is using the gear to stabilise the approach so she can hammer down and take her up again”.
The young man looks at me like I am crazy – and we circle – “Sorry folks – wind shear – we’ll circle and try again” the nice young pilot announces.
We circle – we approach the gear comes down – the young man’s eyes light up – “We are landing?” – No sweetie….see above – it’s getting late and I am rambling. ” how do you know all this” he asks ” Are you a pilot??” – “No but I have watched enough Mayday to know the signs” hahahahah!! that was cruel – I simply tell him that planes fascinate me – I travel alot and I know the sounds.
Pilot “Sorry folks, wind shear – third time will be the charm” VRRROOOMM – up we go again. We circle – approach – to and fro – up and down – side to side (getting nauseous)- the nice young man looks at me – “This time” he asks – like I am an expert??? – “This time”, I tell him.(???) I am no expert.
That pilot – has some “set” on her – she kissed that runway like is was glass.
Summary – I was last off the plane – smiling – I walk to the front – the pilot was there ” Rocky approach” I tell her – she smiles – “Sweet landing” I say -she quips “Told you I wouldn’t get you killed” Well played pilot lady – well played.
Oh – right – went away for three days – Sarah managed fine -Hubby managed fine – the “Boys” are fine.
Orange Acres 