A beautiful day in Powder Springs. I am packed but changed my
mind several times on what I should do about a 'personal item'
on the plane. First I chose my fanny pack and decided that was
too small. Switched to my travel purse then decided I would never
use it once I got to Europe so I went for my old standby - my
suitcase jacket. My Scottvest Windbreaker with the 24 pockets and
one large enough for my tablet was going to be needed in the British
Isles anyway. Then I decided that rather than burden myself with the
heaviness of the jacket when fully loaded I would add more stuff to
my roll-aboard and use the insulated bag I carry on sightseeing
excursions as my personal item carry on. And once I repacked it all,
because at each decision I was fully invested in it and packed,
I was ready to go. Frank Hanson, the worlds best plumber, came by early this morning to
fix a leaky bathtub faucet so I would not have think about the
unstoppable drip, drip, drip while I was gone for two weeks. Christine,
Maddie, and Christian picked me and Skeeter up and delivered me to Delta
curbside check in and delivered Skeeter to their house to spend two weeks
with the Cousin Dogs. Cousin Dogs just spent one week at our house so
I am not too sure she is excited about it. My friend Ruth called to say her flight had been changed and that Delta
had not yet let her know when her second leg would leave Paris and arrive
to Copenhagen. Since Christina made the hotel reservations we did not have
any idea where would be a for sure place to meet. I let her know that since
my flight didn't leave the states until late I would look for a message before
I left the country. And then again when I got to Copenhagen. And we would
meet her at the Starbucks no matter what. Ruth is pretty easy going and
left me with the words that I would find her sleeping at the port. Check in was quick and uneventful. Security is as security always is...
efficient from the TSA point of view and not at all useful or properly
managed from my point of view. I was at my gate in time for a rest room
stop and to fill my water bottle and my flight was already being called.
A very nice young lady was in the seat next to my window seat. She was
returning to her hospital job in New Haven, Connecticut after a weekend
in Chicago for Lollapolluza. My girls went to that at one time or another
but I never realized it drew national interest. I just thought they did it
all over the country. Our flight got to JFK 35 minutes early. Of course another plane was at our
gate and so we waited. Then when we were at the gate something happened I
have never experienced before. The exit door was unable to be opened. It
was stuck! Despite your first thoughts of me I did not become panicked.
Maybe because of the ordinariness of everyone jumping to their feet and
waiting for the doors to open my brain didn't recognize a trapped feeling. I did turn my phone on and was very happy to have texts from Ruth with whom
I am cruising, that her flight would now be in Copenhagen three hours before
mine. She now was not being routed through Paris but had been promoted to a
non-stop. She said I would find her sleeping on the floor outside Starbucks
where we are to meet my friend Christina. Once inside the terminal I had to go down to a lower level and wait for a bus,
which was ironically stuck in tarmac traffic, to have a ride to the other
terminal. My gate was not far from where the bus let us off and I was very
glad that I had allowed two full hours between flights. When I arrived at the
gate after a potty stop they were already starting the boarding process. Not sure why anyone ever wants to pre-board (not sure how that can even be a word.
How do you board before you board?) Is it because they want extra time sitting
and waiting? Our 7:30 flight pushed away from the gate on time, according to the
airline industry, but did not begin to taxi until 8:09, not on time in my book.
But I am sure they make it up along the way or planned it that way all along. Wonder of wonders - this is the miracle flight! There is only one empty seat
on the plane and it is on the aisle next to my window seat! Ahh! Luxury.
And they still had chicken for dinner when they got all the way back to my seat!
That seldom happens. It actually tasted pretty good or maybe it was the
particularly large glass of Chardonnay that I drank with it. Lots of Americans on board this flight. And everyone I have met and talked with
so far is meeting a cruise ship on Wednesday. Mostly Princess for the
Scandinavian tour. One couple, who seems very nice in talking to them but caught
my attention with their The Bickerson's entrance to the aircraft, is going to
be on the Vision of the Seas. He does smoke his electronic cigarette incessantly.
It is their fourth cruise, twice on the Oasis. One question I would like an answer to from someone who flies a lot...the girl in
front of me never turned off her laptop, probably not on line but actively using
it. the flight attendants pointed it out to her twice. She made no attempt to
hide it and they did not insist. On my last flight the girl next to me was on
her phone playing Words With Friends and other games with other people and also
texting during the whole flight. She would turn her phone into her lap if the
attendant was approaching. Are they putting me at risk? Should you point this
out to the crew? What do you do? Most of the plane is sleeping now, I guess I should give it a try.
