That Detroit Airport

Hello,

While waiting for the next flight that was to leave in two hours, I did some serious walking, visited with Leroy while wondering how we could still talk after spending so much time together, and read my magazine. Leroy finished his book and started on the magazine that I had finished.

We approached the desk when a worker came to it. We showed her our paperwork to get on this flight. “This flight is full with only one empty seat. Would you like to volunteer to go on a later flight?” she wanted to know.

I then explained that the last person had told us we could not volunteer again today. “Oh, yes you can,” she emphatically stated, “You could get a $400 additional flight voucher.

We decided to discuss it and get back to her in a few minutes. I was planning on working and I could still do that. Since I am the only one working in the night I was not comfortable missing at the last minute. Leroy had taken the day off.

He went back up and told her he would volunteer to be bumped for the later flight. She said, “We will wait till the last minute as someone else might not show.”

I am still amazed at how many people fly through Detroit to get to Cedar Rapids.

Before the flight the agent came over and gave me a seat on the flight, stating that Leroy might still get on and we might even sit together. I got on the plane and she said, “Are you leaving him?” and laughed.

At the very last minute a guy got on and sat down beside me. I knew then that I would not see Leroy again until almost 9:00.

Paula

In the airport longer

Hello,

We found our new gate, course nothing was happening as we had about three hours to wait. In the meantime that young guy told us he had asked for a meal voucher and the agent was looking for us. We got the voucher. Leroy managed to eat without spending more, but I almost spent half again as much.

Back at the waiting area they asked for people to volunteer to go on a flight that left about two hours later as this flight was full. Leroy and I decided we could wait another two hours so we volunteered for the $400 vouchers. We might get on, but would not know until the last minute. I planned to be at work, but could come late as my co worker would not leave until 5:30. It seemed that we might get on when a man meandered into the area and went on. Because Leroy was not working on this day it seemed fine that he could be the one who waited while I would head on. Again at the very last minute a woman sauntered up without any cares and loaded. We were both staying!

Another official worker woman came up to the desk and the agent asked if she would get our vouchers for us. When she checked our names she said, “You were not officially booked for this flight so I cannot give you a voucher.”

Crushed, not on the plane, and no compensation! That young guy was gone as apparently he had a seat secured, probably the last one available.

When the agent came up our helper talked to him. She seemed to be the boss. She told him that she could not write a voucher for us, when he said, “They volunteered.”

“They volunteered? How much did your offer them?” she wanted to know.

Upon learning the amount she said, “They will be here a long time, I will give them $600.”

She then proceeded to print copious amounts of paper which she stapled and handed to us with instructions, including the fact that we could get no more vouchers today.

If we had not volunteered we would not have been on the flight and we would not have gotten any bonus from it, just more wait time. Blessings rain down in the midst of annoyances!

Paula

In the Airport

Hello,

As we were getting off the plane, we learned that a younger guy, perhaps in his 20’s or 30’s also wanted to make the connection to Cedar Rapids. Inching our way down the aisle behind him, he told us that he would check with the gate agent about the status and catch up with us to let us know what was what. Did he think because he was younger, he would be faster?

We almost immediately found the departure board, learning our gate number; as anticipated it was about as far away as one could be. I saw a person who looked as if they worked here so I inquired about the fastest way to get to our far gate. “Go on the tram and get off at the first stop and walk straight ahead then turn right.” They helpfully said. The tram was overhead and we got on, before we left that other CR person got on. He asked our last name so he could tell the gate agent that we were coming. As the tram doors opened he took off with Leroy right behind him and I brought up the rear.

I have to admit that I was not as fast as those guys, but when I took the moving walkways I came close. “Excuse me, excuse me” became my favorite words for much of this journey. We were moving so fast that I was starting to feel breathless, but I could still talk. Leroy would turn to see if I were there. “Just keep going,” I told him.

We stormed up to the gate only to see that the door was closed. I sank into a seat wondering why I thought I needed changes of clothes or pajamas or other such nonsense. One of the hardest things is trying to move fast with a suitcase hanging off the end of your arms. Wheels help, but they are not the total answer.

The kid ahead of us got a printout for another flight that he could get on. We got the same slip, or I assume it was the same, however it must be noted that he was ahead of us. It talked about a flight at 12:30 or one at 8:10. We were all optimistic about getting on the 12:30 flight. How many people could want to go to Cedar Rapids, IA?

Paula

Trip Home

Hello,

We got up at the early hour of 4:00 am EDT. We were at the Metro in plenty of time to catch the first train to the airport arriving with extra time. For reasons that I do not know about, my boarding pass, that we had printed at Sarah’s house, had printed on it that I was TSA Prechk. The first person I saw wanted me to go in a different line than Leroy. When he started to move with me, she asked, “Are you together?”

At our positive response she said, “You can stay in this line because you, pointing at Leroy, cannot go in the precheck line.” Addressing me she continued, “You do not have to take off your jacket or shoes.”

I had forgotten about taking off my shoes when in the CR airport. The attendant told me I must it would only be for someone 75 or older. Do you suppose the computer thinks I have aged almost ten years?

Anyway I liked not taking off my shoes even though I had already undone the double knots in the ties.

We were so early we could have almost gone on the earlier flight that was going to Detroit. Later we started wishing we had done that. Our flight boarded on time, but we sat on the runway as something had to be fixed with the water line. Our connection was only 30 minutes in Detroit and we used at least ten or fifteen minutes getting that water fixed. I kept telling myself that it was not something we could control and we would figure it out. Also surely there was more than one flight per day to Cedar Rapids. The flight was uneventful, but we were sitting in the 20^th row. They did announce that people who had more time should stay in their seats and let others with close connection times depart first. That worked for the people closest to us, but those far forward people just went about getting their bags and moving off at their own speed. All of this time I am thinking about how to find the tram, running at top speed while hanging on to two bags. My adrenaline was working just fine as I could feel my heart speed up.

Paula

Tourists

Stephen took Natalie to daycare. Leroy and I walked Lexi to school, stopping in the precise place that she wanted us to. It was close to the building, but not in the building. We then came back home, gathered up things we wanted to take on our trek to the city center. Those things included a map, metro passes, money, courage, and expectations. Even though we had been here before it has been a while so the map gave security, metro passes allowed us to speed cheaply to our destination, money was added to the passes so we could get back home, courage is what I always need when striking out from memory and instructions., and expectations added that bit of edge to it all.

We did experience something new when we got on the transfer metro car, it did not go anywhere, but sat with the doors open. Someone did announce that we would sit for a while as there was some problem up the way. It took about five to ten minutes. When we told Stephen about it at night, he informed us that we have now had the complete metro experience as often he hears people complaining because they had to wait somewhere along the line.

As we got off the metro and were getting our street bearings a homeless man (I know he was homeless because his sign said so.) asked if we needed help. He was quick to spot the unsure, or maybe he even recognizes many people from daily exposure. He graciously told us how to go and it dovetailed nicely with what I had been thinking. We thanked him and headed off for a pleasant walk in the cool air.

Our first and most important destination was the MLK memorial which we had not yet seen. It impressed both of us. We were once again struck by the sensitivity and perceptiveness of this man. What gifts he was given to see the whole picture beyond just himself.

From there we saw mostly repeat monuments, but they were nice to revisit. That included the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War, Vietnam War, Vietnam women’s, and World War II. Another new one was the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence. It was not so spectacular, but well done with the signatures in stone along with the printed translation. That translation was need for understanding some of them. They are grouped so those from a state are displayed together.

Leroy and I felt like a couple old people as my foot was bothering me and his hip was bothering him. We had to sit more than once because of that.

I think one of the honor flights must have been visiting as there were a number of even older guys, many in wheel chairs at the WWII memorial. When we came by on the return walk there were military from several countries in full dress uniform. Leroy recognized some of them.  That guy knows so many different types of things. It seemed there was to be some type of ceremony.

After all that walking, Leroy and I came home rather than go to a museum as we had originally planned. Besides it was time to go pick up Lexi from school. Where did the time go?

Paula

In DC

We are in DC. Our landlady rolled out of bed at the early hour and drove us to the airport in plenty of time. We were a bit mystified when we got to the gate area as there was no sign of our airline going to Detroit even though it was stated on the general board. Some people were already in the chairs so we sat too. Even at the recommended boarding time no workers were on the scene. Finally the flight crew came and that seemed like a good sign even though they also just ended up standing around. Someone finally came, but even then no signs turned on and we were actually boarded by being marked by hand on a chart.  It was late, but we still had enough time for the layover to find our next plane. I mean, “How big can the Detroit airport be?”

Then before we left the ground, the pilot announced that we would have to wait because they needed to de-ice the plane. It still seemed that time would all work out because we would have 45 minutes to make the connection.

After landing we were taxing around the building when the plane stopped rather abruptly. In a bit another plane could be seen going in front of us. Do those pilots just keep an eye out for others as they move around on the ground? Then we got to the gate and the pilot announced that there were emergency vehicles in the way. He would call the tower for an alternate gate. That took a little bit more time. He also commented as he started to move that emergency vehicles looked as if they were also leaving, but we kept moving. At the new gate we had to wait for the ground crew to get in place to do all of that work that they do.

My bag had been plane sided so I waited for that while Leroy went out to look for the next plane. Course it was about as far from this spot as you could be and still be in the airport. We were in Terminal C6 and we needed to get to A78. We started following signs and moving at the great Bradway walk speed with a little extra push. When we were about half way there I noticed that there is a tram in this airport. We had enough time to use the bathroom before we flopped into seats in the waiting area. “When we come back, I am going to figure out how and where to catch that tram,” I panted.

On the return trip we only have about 30 min. in the schedule. It seems like a miss if we are delayed on the first flight. We leave later and get back earlier. We are counting on being early enough that I can go to work. And then we are going to use the city buses to get to our house. Hopefully they abide by their schedules.

Lexi was quite excited to see us when we picked her up after school. We knew to bring our picture ID’s which they copied. Lexi went with us to pick up two year old Natalie who has not seen us in person since last Christmas. As it turned out Natalie saw me first and she just produced a bit grin. That webcam is a great invention for helping memory. As we were leaving, after once again have the ID’s copied, Natalie went into my arms, not eagerly or closely, but comfortably.

Paula

Packing

Hello,

I still have not packed. It is so hard to decide what clothes will feel comfortable. Then, there is my feet and how to comfortably shoe them. If it is too hot the Morton’s neuroma lets me know that it is still around. On the other hand it might be too cool for sandals all of the time. We only do carry on so it is a trick to get all needed things in especially if packing shoes. I figure that I can borrow some clothes from Sarah even if she is in South Africa. I am fortunate to have girls the same size that I am. Makes packing a little easier. No one has my foot size.

Yesterday we again went to the garden and helped to strip it of most of the tomato vines. There were enough tomatoes that I once again canned four pints and froze a small amount. Now I am done with that. Beans are also done. Yesterday I picked and pulled the rest of the green beans. We froze them because I created room in the freezer. I am not sure how many it was, but I would guess it was easily more than seven pints. We are well supplied for the winter. I love that save, well taken care of feeling.

We are getting a ride to the airport with our landlord as we need to be there earlier than the buses run. On the return trip we will indeed use the bus. Hopefully our plane will be on time, if not we will have to wait an hour at the airport. I did remind Leroy that was how it worked in Bratislava too. I believe we have gotten away from the waiting mentality. We must put a positive spin on it and contemplate life and the gifts we have.

This morning I visited with Nora. She called because her mother had a question about making cinnamon rolls. In the past Nora has just grinned while on the phone. Today she was talking so much that I thought for sure it was her older sister. It was great to have this time together.  Thank you to all those who contributed to this great technology that allows us to connect so easily.

Paula