Friday, 4-13-07
Left my parents house bright and early in the morning and headed to the Portland International Jetport. Checked in and received boarding passes at the main desk. Checked luggage that was going on the plane. Headed towards the gate and had the privilege of getting felt up and fondled by airport security. Arms up, palms up, lean forward. Oh boy. What a turn on. Hey!, doesn't take much. After that ordeal, I headed to the boarding gate flying US Airways. Had some time to kill, so I checked my voice mail at work and went into a shop to load up on some magazines for my trip to Dallas. Boarded the plane and flew to LaGuardia, New York.
Was transported via wheelchair to an exit of the airport and was told that I would need to board a shuttle to take me to the Continental Gate. LaGuardia is such a big facility, so I boarded a shuttle and got a ride around the airport. Eventually I saw a sign for Continental and got off the shuttle. Was taken by wheelchair to the Continental entrance. Seeing I was going through a different airline, I had to go through the whole arms up, palms up, lean forward ordeal all over again. After that excitement, I was moved towards the boarding gate and got on a plane going to Houston, Texas.
The flight to Houston was rather bumpy and a passenger sitting fairly close to me took out the bag from the seat in front of her. I was trying to counsel and encourage her to avoid a potentially nasty mess. Fortunately, we landed and everyone remained intact. Yeaaa!!! Thank God!!! After landing in Houston, our flight was delayed and I did not have that much time to get to my next gate. The people in the airport to transfer people around were very helpful in getting me to my next gate just in time. I got on the plane and received a phone call from Uncle Ken on my Mom's cell phone that I borrowed for the trip. He said his flight was significantly delayed arriving in Houston. We had originally intended to all board the flight in Houston and arrive in Dallas, Love Field together. Dallas, Love Field is the one airport closer to our hotel and the wedding. From what Uncle Ken told me, they would be going on another flight and landing in Love Field. My plane took off and I was expecting to meet my cousin Emily in Love Field. Half way to Dallas the captain says that a tornado hit near the Love Field airport and the airport is being shut down. Our flight was redirected back to Houston. I attempted to call Uncle Ken after landing, but my cell phone battery had died.
We landed in Houston and I found a pay phone and left Uncle Ken a message to call me and leave a message on my voice mail at work. My cell phone was not available and does not have voice mail. I then had to check my luggage and get a new boarding pass. The only flight that was available from Houston was to Dallas, Fort Worth, leaving later that night. At this point I did not care how I got there. I just wanted to get there for the wedding. Now that I had my boarding pass and my luggage I had the thrilling experience of going through airport security all over again. Third freaking time today!!! A woman in the area was questioning my walking sticks, wondering why I needed them and was not going to let me on the plane with them. Let's face it, I look like a terrorist. I'm thinking to myself, I am so going to go kung-fu on you if you do not give me my sticks, then I thought saying that would be a bad idea, because she would have a good reason not to let me board the plane. I did need to have my sticks checked as luggage, but the stewardess on the plane was sympathetic and let me have my sticks on board. Meanwhile, my Grandfather and the Johnsons arrive in Houston and they are ready to board a flight to Dallas. They hear about my flight and Tim volunteers to stay behind and look for me. I was told this once I eventually arrived in Dallas Fort Worth. I picked up dinner at around 9:30 PM and was ready to board the plane to Dallas, Fort Worth.
In desperate situations, people really pull through and are very helpful. One woman let me use her cell phone and I made it count by calling my Aunt Elaine to give her a run down of my situation. At this point I still did not know Tim stayed behind to look for me. I was going to ask her where she was and was ready to take a cab to get to the hotel, but she said that one of Meg's friends lives near Dallas, Fort Worth. I asked Aunt Elaine to call my parents and tell them that I was still alive and on my way to Dallas. Eventually boarded the plane and headed to Dallas, Fort Worth.
Saturday, 4-14-07
Landed in Dallas, Fort Worth and was very happy to arrive. Checked my luggage and met Meg's friend Rich, who was very thoughtful and took me to the hotel. On the way, I got to see a lot of Dallas at night. The lights were beautiful and the traffic was pretty light, seeing it was around midnight. We arrived at the hotel and I saw Meg and thought - Thank God!!! I made it. Walked into the hotel and saw Emily, who also made it and gave her a hug, thinking another person from New England made it successfully. Gave Aunt Elaine a hug and followed with a run down of my story with the events that transpired to get me to my destination. Went into my hotel room, where I saw Tim who made it successfully as well. Chatted for a few minutes, took a shower, and went to bed. It was 1:30 AM in the morning. 2:30 AM my time.
Woke up the next morning at a reasonable time and met up with the rest of the party who flew from New England to Dallas and had a good breakfast. After everything I went through yesterday, I was very happy to sit down and have a nourishing meal. We got dressed for the wedding and headed off to a Congregational Church where the ceremony was. The wedding went very well. The pastor used several verses from the Bible that were appropriate to weddings. After the ceremony, we took pictures and chatted with each other. We then headed back to the hotel. The Johnsons and Uncle Greg went into a hot tub outside. It was a blazing 45 degrees that day. Had a talk with Meg, saying that getting married in January and February is a great time to get married in Texas. I was perfectly comfortable walking around in a tee-shirt, but all of the native Texans were all dressed up.
We then departed and headed to a great restaurant named the Saltgrass. The food and service was great. It was our back-up plan in the event that we did not eat very much at the reception. Pep also wanted a drink. After yesterday, I could have had one as well. I did drink an authentic Texas ice-tea, which was delicious. We then left the restaurant and headed to the reception located at Marie's father's house. Crawfish was served and got to try one. I do eat sushi, so I thought trying crawfish couldn't be that bad. During the reception, we chatted with different people and I had an opportunity to use Uncle Greg's cell phone and call my parents. Told them that I landed safely and in one piece. We eventually left the reception and headed back to the hotel. Everyone else stayed up and socialized, but being as tired as I was, I took a hot bath (one of life's goals) and went to bed early Saturday evening.
Sunday, 4-15-07
Woke up bright and early in the morning, saying goodbye to Aunt Elaine and Uncle Greg, and headed to Dallas, Love Field, which was our original intended airport to arrive to. Picked up a few magazines and a Dallas tee-shirt. Needed a souvenir for my trip. Uncle Ken printed our boarding passes online, so we were able to check in fairly quickly. Went though security all over again. Arms up, palms up, lean forward. Left security and headed toward our plane. Picked up a cranberry muffin for breakfast. Boarded the plane and landed in Houston for the third time. Headed to our gates. My grandfather and the Johnsons had a different flight from Houston to Boston. We said good luck and goodbye to each other and went our separate ways. My flight leaving Houston going to Newark, New Jersey was delayed in maintenance. Did a little shopping in the meantime, buying some more magazines. It would have made a lot more sense morally and financially if I had brought my Bible. Was not going to buy any souvenirs with the Houston logo on them. Did not have a good experience there.
Eventually boarded the plane and headed to Newark, NJ. The plane was huge and have TVs everywhere. We could watch movies, play video games, or listen to music. Bought an MP3 player for the trip, so I was set. Got to see a topographical map as we were flying. We eventually landed and I am sitting towards the back of the plane. It always takes people forever to get off of a plane. The path was eventually clear and I realize that I have 15 minutes to get to my next gate. I tell this to a stewardess and she gets someone to push me in a wheel chair going turbo speed in the airport. Of course my flight from Newark, NJ to Portland, ME is the furthest gate away. I get there and come to find out that my flight was delayed, because they did not have a crew. A few hours pass and eventually board the plane on route to Portland. The stewardess could not figure out where to put my sticks so I received new labels and they were checked as luggage. After a 40 minute wait on the runway, we eventually take off and fly to Portland.
I was so thankful once we touched down!!! As I got off the plane and went through the airport to check my luggage and sticks, I saw a lot of outgoing flights cancelled. Praise the Lord that I made it back and did not have to spend the night in Newark. Mom and Dad met me as I picked up my belongings and we headed home. That's my story!
