Where are we now?

Hello,

 

Yesterday, Leroy and I came home from a weeklong visit with Sarah and her family. The first part of the trip was as expected. We rode the metro to the airport with ease. Since there is much caution about the pandemic, there were few people on the train, only one or two were ever in the car with us. At the airport it was quite simple to get the boarding passes printed, go through security, and wait in the boarding area with the realization that Sarah was right, we were there plenty early. The plane took off on time and we landed in Chicago for the transfer to come to Cedar Rapids. There were only about thirty minutes to find the gate, but it turned out to be fairly close.

 

At this point things started to change. We learned that the gate had changed, with a plane leaving for Detroit at the assigned gate, but our new plane would come in after that. The old plane had had mechanical difficulties. We then went to the proper place, sat down, ate a bit of the food we had brought with us, and relaxed. Our departure was now scheduled about half an hour later than the original. That was all fine since we are fairly good at waiting.

 

The announcement stated that our plane would come as soon as they found someone to move it to the gate with departure pushed back a bit more. When the plane finally came it was too hot inside as it has been it had been sitting in the sun. It took about 15-20 minutes to cool it from 90 degrees to something more tolerable. At take off we were about two hours later than expected. Nice we were not facing another transfer. It was to be a short 36 minutes flight. As we were approaching Cedar Rapids, the pilot came on to say, “There is a thunder storm over Cedar Rapids. We will stay in the air another 10-15 minutes before landing.”

 

I do not know where we were as we mostly went in a straight line. Sometime later the pilot came on again, “I am running out of fuel and the storm is still over Cedar Rapids. We will go to Moline and fuel before going back to Cedar Rapids.

 

On the short jaunt to Moline a woman ahead of us summoned the flight attendant. I could not hear the conversation except for, “will have to call when we get on the ground. Would some water help?”

 

The woman was traveling with two preteen children. When we landed she and the children got off the plane while the rest of us stayed. We did not pull up to the building but instead they brought a moving stairs. At this point the flight attendant told us we could use any electronic devices and the toilet if needed. He also brought water for anyone who wanted it.

 

In a bit the pilot got back on, announced, “I had to sign some papers and we will be able to depart now for the short 15 minute trip back to Cedar Rapids.”

 

That was the shortest commercial flight I have ever been on.

 

At the airport I had to wait for my plane sided bag while Leroy went off to check on the bus schedule. We had planned to be there about three hours earlier. At the six o’clock hour there was no one at the information desk. Leroy suggested we go out to look for a bus schedule at the stop, even though we have never seen such. No schedule, but a number to text. Leroy tried that, but was unsuccessful. I suggested, “Let’s just call our downstairs friends and beg for a ride.”

 

While I was talking to them, Leroy said, “I think I see the bus.”

 

I could not see it, but informed my listeners of the possibility. We stayed on the line until I could say; yes it was the bus so we changed plans and hopped on. The driver was the sole occupant. We learned that the ride was free. At some other stops he had to sit and wait a little because he was getting too far ahead of schedule with no additions or subtractions of riders. Leroy got a bus schedule and found we were on the last bus of the day just as the driver told us that fact. So we called those wonderful downstairs friends and asked if they could pick us up downtown which is really much closer for them. She agreed. Just when we were getting close to the terminal, I was wondering how we would find her. At that moment she pulled around the corner and slipped into an area where the buses pick up passengers. What luck!

 

Paula