Talk about a learning experience. I love traveling, but this last trip was almost more than I could handle. It turned out to be a good trip, and a great story. Read on to enjoy Traveling Experiences: The Whole Shebang A Novel. I hope you laugh your butt off.
Thursday
I will NEVER again use a paper ticket. There is no back up. The airline will do nothing if the ticket is lost or stolen. Which is exactly what happened. Selo drove us all to the airport. He knew where we were going and got us there in good time. One thing I love about Selo is that he has a great sense of direction and is not afraid to ask for directions. We did this a few times to make sure we were in the right direction. Whic we were. When we make it to the airport, Selo told me to take Granny and the suitcases inside to check in while he parked the car in long term parking. We were going to meet back when we were all checked in. So I grabbed mine and Granny's ticket and gave Selo his. Now these were not confirmation of electronic ticket pages, these were the actual tickets themselves. Remember when airlines used to use paper tickets? Yeah, me neither. There's a reason they did away with them.
Anyway, Selo and I divide the luggage so he is carrying light stuff and I take the heavy stuff. That way he doesn't have to carry heavy suitcases from clear out there in long term parking. Granny and I go inside and start waiting in line. Lines that ARE NOT moving yet. While waiting in line, I get a call from Selo. He can't find where to get into Long term parking- all the entrences are gated shut. He is sitting there with six other cars, outside the gate of the long term parking. Doesn't sound good. After asking around a little bit, I find out the airport itself doesn't open until 4:30AM. It's a quarter after four. So we wait in our non-moving line, and Selo sits in the car outside the long term parking gate. Not making much progress yet.
Finally things start moving. We make it up to the line and check in, and Selo gets the car parked. Granny and I get into the next line (the security check point) to wait in this even longer line. Selo calls and asks where I am. In line, I say. He says (and this is where my heart skips a beat) I need my ticket Babe. Oh shizzle. We argue a little bit about who has the ticket. Then we both start searching our bags, pockets, paperwork, ect. Nothing. Selo heads back to the car- twenty minutes away- to search the car. We are just about to the front of the line and he calls to tell me it's not in the car. He has torn the car apart three times already.This situation is NOT getting any better. I am beginning to get frantic. I check my bags again and the paperwork in my hand again. Selo goes to the ticket counter. No such luck. For either of us. Basically, because it is a paper ticket that is gone, there is nothing they can/will do. We are SOL. Selo and I are heatedly discussing our options. No clue what to do. It's going to cost him $1000 to get another flight, and he doesn't have the money. It was spent on his urgent trip to Montana because of Lizz and the court crap. (No he never did get to see his girls while he was up there and yes the judge dropped the issue.) I am already through the check point with Granny and the attendant pushing her wheelchair on our way to the plane. We talk about him going home, but just last night he gave his house key to Promise, who is watching the house while we are gone. So he has no ticket, no money, and no house key. Well great. I am on the plane praying for mercy and crying. Selo is running between the ticket counter and the car mad as hell. So the plane takes off- without my Selo. I keep thinking that as long as we don't lift off, he can still make it. Maybe a miracle will happen. Maybe this is some cruel joke. Maybe... And then as the plane takes off and we are in the air, I give up. I realize Selo doesn't have magical powers, he doesn't have wings, and he isn't going. Period. It takes me more tears and lots of people starring at me to get a grip.
So Granny and I go on with our plans. We make our connection in Atlanta, and then go on to make our connection (thanks to the really nice, really calm lady pushing Granny's wheelchair) in Denver. As we check in at Denver, someone wraps their arms around me. It's my Selo! I don't know how he did it, but he got on another flight and connected with us in Denver! (I later found out he was helped by a really nice gentleman named James R that worked for the airport. JR found an open seat for him on another flight that Selo could purchase at a slightly better price.) The three of us boarded our last plane and flew to Salt Lake. It was so nice to finally have Selo with us. It was such a weird feeling landing in SLC. This is the first time I have been back in Utah since I moved. Everything is familiar, but it's just not home anymore.
Once we got off the plane in SLC we asked for a wheelchair for Granny. Two other wheelchairs went by before they finally brought Granny's wheelchair. She wasn't feeling well so I started to make a tissy fit. But they got it to us and she was able to relax. We then headed off for baggage claim so that we could get out of there and get on our way. we had quite a few bags to claim between the three of us. We waited patiently while everyone grabbed their bags and cleared out. And we kept waiting, and kept waiting... No sign of our bags. Any of them. Selo and I split up and check the other two baggage carousels in case we were at the wrong one. After searching all three of them, I found an airport security person and asked who I speak with about possible lost baggage. Luckily I had found the right person the first time. He said that if we hadn't found our bags yet, they probably weren't in the SLC airport. *sigh* So I filled out the Lost Baggage paperwork. I made sure they were aware that I had two- not one, but two- weddings to attend this weekend. They promised me that our bags would be coming to SLC on a flight at 5:00 that evening, and that I would have them before it was dark. They even told me they would bring them down to me. Well, okay. Not like I have any other choice anyway.
We have lunch at Grandma Davis' and then headed down to Utah Valley. We visited with my family and some "friends" for a while. (I say "friends" because as of this weekend, they have decided they are more interested in a legal battle than in a friendship. Thursday we were "friends", Friday we were "friends", Sunday they decided they were done playing "friends".) Selo left to go to his mom's, Susan's. That is where we were staying for the weekend- Thank you Susan! Selo waited for a while for his mom to get home, then Susan, Josh (Selo's bro-in-law), and Selo had dinner and talked before Selo went to bed. Mom and I went off to Shirley's to start making food for Rebeka's reception. We made six hundred sandwiches. Ugh. Rolling and spreading and cutting and mixing. It took several hours. So while I was there I continuously called the Airport baggage claim to keep tabs on our lost luggage. Not much luck, but they were well aware of my situation. After the food was finished, Mom and I ran up to SLC. We had to pick up the Groom's ring for the wedding the next day. But Shhhhhh- he couldn't know about it. We got the ring and Mom dropped me off at Suzzie's. I asked Selo about our luggage, but he also had no luck. So I made a final call to the airport. I let them know we still didn't have our luggage and I had a wedding to attend in less than 24 hours. They said they would find it and deliver it. Once again I got off the phone knowing there wasn't anything I could say to change anything. Oh well. Suzzie loaned me some pjs (thank you!) and I barely hit the pillow before I was asleep. Selo was so sweet and set the alarm for me to wake up on time the next morning.
Awe sleep. It was so lovely. Until Selo got a call at three in the morning. Who the...? It was the airport baggage delivery! And they were there with our bags! Selo went upstairs and pulled the bags inside. We would deal with them tomorrow. Right now, back to bed.
Friday
The next morning he wakes me up with news. Want the good news or the bad? The good news is the airport delivered luggage last night. The bad news is that it's not the right luggage. So we have my Granny's luggage here at our house. She is staying in SLC. Hmmm maybe they delivered OUR luggage to HER. I make the call to SLC, and am let down again. No luggage there. But I agree to bring Granny's luggage up there tonight before the dinner. I call the airport and thank them for delivering Granny's bags, but I still need mine. And now the wedding is in less than six hours. I am starting to panic. I can't miss this wedding- I am IN it! They are understanding (of course) and get a few people to help them find my bag. I only need one bag. The one that has our clothes for the wedding in it. *sigh* But I try to be patient and understanding. I don't do a very good job, the wedding is now in less than three hours. I get a call on my cell phone from the airline saying they have my luggage and are in route to deliver it. Thank Heavens! Selo waits at the house to make sure it is the right bag this time, and I run to WalMart to buy the rest of the stuff needed for the wedding. I get what I need and hurry back home. I pass the delivery van as I pull in. And it's the right bag! Yay! I set the veil and bouquet I made near the door and run to take a shower. Selo and I left and ran to Provo to get my top for my sister's wedding tomorrow and then back to my Mom's.
As we arrive at Mom's we see half a dozen people hanging around. And there are calls coming in about every five minutes from the church, where more people are waiting. We get my mom in the car- finally- and off to the church for the wedding. Mom, me, and Rebeka are in the ladies room primping and preparing. Selo very kindly comes in and takes a few pictures of the bride and then all of us, so we have pictures. Hehe <3>Selo. Everything is ready. Now we are just waiting for the groom and the father of the bride to show up. Waiting, waiting, and they are here. About time! Everyone is ready. The bride has her veil, her bouquet, and her dad. The groom is waiting at the front for his bride. The guests are seated. Let the wedding begin!
My mom, the beautiful bride, walks down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband, Dave. A long awaited moment has come to pass. They say their vows, and prepare the rings. Dave gives Mom hers- a 2.5 ct diamond!- and Mom gives Dave his- the ring we ran to SLC for last night. And this time, he doesn't have to take it off! (When it was purchased, Jared's had to order the ring in his size, so they gave a similar but too small ring for the ceremony. It was too small and couldn't be warn for long.) After the wedding we all pose for pictures. Then we head off to Shirley's for Mom and Dave's dinner. It was a blast! There was good food and beautiful cake and yummy homemade punch. Everyone was having a good time. And Mom was the most pleasant bride! We all had a good time visiting and enjoying the happiness.
Now that the news is out, I would like to offer special Congratulations to Mom and Dave on their wedding! I wish you the best and lots of happiness. And Dave, don't forget, she is my mom, so if you break her heart, you will have me to deal with, Buster. ;)
Soon, Selo and I had to leave to go to Grandma Davis' for dinner. The Davis family had a few more details to work out for Rebeka's wedding the next day. Selo and I started on our way to SLC when Beka called. We had to turn around and go get another car. We had to take the car we were using AND the car Rebeka had been driving up with us. Okay. We go get the car, and it dies before it gets out of the parking stall. Try again, fail again. We know it is just not enough gas because the gas gauge was below E. E for empty. Eventually we get it to a gas station. Once it has gas, we get back on the road (now in separate vehicles) and head back to AF to get Granny's luggage and on to SLC. I called Grandma Davis' about a quarter to six to let her know we are going to be a few minutes late. We finally make it up there at seven thirty. Ugh, I hate driving in Utah. When we get to SLC I find out that my Granny Ball has been sick all day. Her blood pressure was up over 200. Scary! My family had called the ER and had been told to get some more BP medicine in her and if it doesn't drop right away bring her in. So she is being watched very closely by my entire family.
On to dinner, Selo and I eat, then move into the family room to do our part in the last minute details. We are helping Judy wrap presents when she gets a call from her brother. From this side of the conversation, she is being told something about her dad and Lakeview Hospital. Not good. When she gets off the phone, she is not talking in complete sentences and is not thinking clearly. She tells us her father has died and she has to go to him. Mitch is looking for the address of Lakeview Hospital (never heard of it) and Aunt Tamra is on the phone with her mom-in-law asking for directions. They get out the door about ten o'clock, leaving instructions about kids ect with family. Poor little cousin Daniel (who is six) is doing his best to sit through a breathing treatment. Without much success. After an hour of watching him without improvement, his mom, Aunt Tamra, packs him up and takes him to the emergency room. He is put on oxygen and admitted. *sigh* The rest of the kids are in bed, the adults are dead tired, and Selo and I are still waiting for Rebeka to decide she is ready to go home. It's nearing midnight and we all have a long day tomorrow. This is when Rebeka decides to let someone talk her into stay there tonight. Well okay, Selo and I leave just as fast as we can to get ourselves home and to bed. Once again, I am barely in bed before I am asleep. And once again Selo was sweet enough to set the alarm.
Saturday
The next morning we woke up bright and early. We spent a few minutes relaxing and having some quiet time before the hectic day. I left to go meet Judy, Katerina, and Max for our hair apts. After we had our hair done Judy and Max went back to SLC and Katerina and I went to do the last minute shopping we needed for the wedding. On the way Kristine called and begged to go with us. No problem! I picked her up on the way and we all planned our shopping trip. We wanted this to go as quickly and smoothly as possible. Selo, Susan, and Oshy met us at the mall to do the shopping we needed to do together (for a certain ring) and then we all split up again. I had to get my nails done (I had been trying since Thursday!) and buy a new *undergarment* (the top Rebeka chose for her bridesmaids was a little more see-through than originally described) and Kristine needed clothes and jewelry to wear to the wedding. We finish our shopping and pile into the car. It takes 30 minutes to get from the freeway to state street on University! Those of you that know that area know that although it is not a short drive, it shouldn't take 30 minutes. But of course, when there is a wedding to attend, traffic will be heavy. Kristine gets dropped off and Selo gets picked up. I am so grateful to Selo because he is always willing to drive. Since he is driving, I climb over the seat into the back, and change into my clothes for the wedding luncheon.
We are only an hour late for the wedding luncheon and we sneak in ever so quietly. Too bad we didn't sneak in unnoticed. I don't know who looked more angry that we were late, the bride's family or the groom's family. >< Better late than never? Maybe not this time. But after the luncheon we help clean up and help set up for the wedding. We go to Grandma Davis' and get everything else needed for the wedding itself.
There is chaos as we walk in the door. We are swept up in a whirlwind of "Grab this!" "Don't forget to put this in the car!" "Where are my shoes?" and anything else you can think of that would be said in a panic right before a wedding. In the middle of the rush, this good looking guy in a great suit walks into the front room. My mouth drops as I realize who this man is. My man! He looked... WOW! He didn't own a suit, so his mom took him shopping. The suit he was wearing was so outstanding on him! I hugged him and told him I was glad he was mine. Rebeka is loaded into Kiera's car and her dress in the back. I have the sash, the broach and the bride doll. Back to the Ivory Highland Country Clubhouse.Helping Rebeka into her dress in that little bathroom is definitely a learning experience. We bridesmaids got up close and personal.
Finally, the bouquets are handed out, the attendants are lined up, and the father of the bride is found- what's with the father-of-the-brides disappearing at the last moment? Oh yes, and Aunt Katie is now directing because Aunt Tamra is still at the hospital with Daniel. The prayer is said and the ceremony begins. Everyone is lined up and sent down the aisle. The bishop that performed the ceremony was humoring and enlightening. I daresay it was entertaining. At least, it would have been if I hadn't been shaking so much. My sister is getting married! This person that I have known her whole life, and who I have been friends with for most of mine. I can hardly belive that THIS long awaited moment is happening. I look out at the guests and see my Mom. Not crying yet, but definitely feeling the emotion of her daughter getting married. I see my best friend, Crystal, friend of my family and my biggest supporter. I remember being there for her when she and her husband were married in the temple a few years ago. I see my wonderful Selo. He did so much just to make sure he was out here for me and to support my family during this. What a wonderful man. I feel so blessed as I think of all these people and how lucky I am. And then I realize I am missing the ring ceremony. Andy put Rebeka's ring on. Then Rebeka put Andy's ring on. lol And then she moved it to the correct hand. They kissed as husband and wife (oh more tears) and were presented to their guests as Mr and Mrs Andy and Rebeka Grass. Please step up to offer your congratulations to the newest married couple!
Pictures begin. Flashes and smiles are all around. Selo stands behind the photographer and mingles around. He gets some GREAT shots. (Now I know why he was hired by that modeling agency as one of their photographers...) We smile, we group together, we hug, and we pose. The bride and groom are lead all over the grounds and have a great time. Everyone else is running around getting tables and food set up and getting things ready for the reception.
The guests begin to show and the reception line is placed. There were so many people we haven't seen in so long. Just a few of the people we saw: Sherry and Lloyd (Choices); Kristy (choices) and her fiance; Suzanne (friend and neighbor) and her four kids Mia, Quinten, Alli, and Brinnin; Nicole and Aubrey (friends); Bryan (friend); Granny Hill, Aunt Roxanne and Aunt Janis (family on Daddy's side); and Kevin (good friend). And Selo was wonderful, standing close taking picture after picture and making sure I would have some great pictures to go along with my memories. It was so nice see and hug and catch-up with people I hadn't seen in so long. I spent quite a bit of time talking to people and exchanging contact info. I got good at writing my name, three phone numbers, two email addresses, and one snail mail address.
Meanwhile, outside, Selo was supervising as some devious delinquents fulfilled tradition. It had to do with dish soap, oreo cookies, toilet paper, and a specially pre-selected vehicle. The look on the "delinquents" faces when it was finished was priceless. But not nearly as good as the look on the owner/groom's face. Words cannot describe. Inside, the reception was coming to the end. It was time to cut the cake and throw the bouquet. The cake was beautiful (Thank you LaVern!). The bride and groom cut the cake ever so gently, and fed it to each other with love- and cleanliness! No smearing on each others faces, much to the disappointment of some and to the happiness of others. I have always wondered how the cake-baker felt about their cake being smeared all over someone... And then the bouquet. We were all lined up. Rebeka took one last glance to make sure she was throwing it to us and not to the pool, and there it went. There was only one person that did a full superman leap into the air to catch the bouquet. It was Pixie. lol Everyone laughed as she held it up proudly with triumph. And then, she did the sweetest Little Pixie thing- she took a flower out and gave one to each person that was out to catch it. It was so cute! When the reception was over, the bride and groom got into their car and drove off. You could definitely tell which way they went, there was toilet paper in their trail. The rest of us loaded Mom's car full of gifts and everyone else's car full of everything else. We piled all the gifts on one table at Grandma Davis', and left all the other cars full to be unloaded the next day.
On the way home, Selo tells me about the call he made to his dad that morning. After a little bit of phone tag they connected. His dad had been in the hospital late the night before. His dad has a lot of stomach problems and has to stay within 90 minutes of a hospital at all times. Well last night was one of those times. His esophagus ruptured. He was rushed to the hospital and had emergency surgery. The surgery saved his life. We are so grateful it was caught in time and he made it. (We love you Sid.) When we get home, I crawled into bed, and -big surprise- I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. And- again- Selo was sweet and set the alarm.
Sunday
We got up and began packing. Susan kept commenting about how calm I was. I laughed and told her to wait two more hours. I attempted several times to get a hold of certain someone. The "friend". No luck, so I sent a text message and left it at that. Susan made a fabulous goodbye breakfast for us (thank you Susan) and Mike and Sharon and Cody came over. Mm-mm it was good. The only person we were missing was Sarah (Sanny is out in Michigan and couldn't be there). As time goes on, I get more excited about going home, and we keep packing.
I finally get the call I have been waiting for from my "friend". It doesn't go the way I had hoped (she doesn't want to settle out of court, she would rather work through my lawyer and handle this in court.) I get off the phone, and then continue packing. We are almost ready to leave. Now I am really running around like crazy. But we are making progress and we are almost out the door. As I am loading suitcases in the car, I get the call again. This time, she says she wants to meet me and talk. I tell her I will meet her at the offramp at the freeway in ten minutes and she has five minutes to talk. She agrees. We are almost finished frantically packing more of Selo's belongings into suitcases to take back with us. That was the reason we brought so many to Utah in the first place. To take his stuff back. Selo's family walks us outside and we say our goodbyes. Hugs all around. Oh I'm gonna miss them.
We get in the car to leave and sit there. It won't start. I shake my head and Selo laughs. This is just what we need. We are supposed to be at my Grandmother's so she can take us to the airport, and we still have a stop to make on the way. But Selo is good, he gets the car started and we roll away. Yay for Selo and his faith in cars. As we pull up to where we are supposed to meet my "friend", she calls and says she isn't going to be there in time. I tell her I'm sorry, but I don't have time to wait. I set aside Thursday night and I went to your house to work this out with you. I don't have time to wait any more. She begs me to work this out over the phone. I agree and attempt negotiations. After she offers a ridicules number, I tell her it's not acceptable. She argues and I tell her I am not going to waste my time if she is not going to be serious. She argues again and then says if I don't accept her offer for the money that she owes me, she will go to court with me. I kindly agree. I have already spoken with my legal agency, but wanted to give her one last chance to come to an agreement out of court. Thankfully the conversation didn't take long and Selo and I turned to conversation about our trip home. We get to Grandma Davis' and Pixie runs to greet us.
Inside it is so relaxing. No wedding planning, no food preparations, no stress. Just sit back and enjoy the moment. Granny looks a lot better and is feeling much better. Cousin Daniel was released from the hospital and is feeling better. Judy is still working with her family about funeral arrangements and flights for everyone. We give our final hugs, get final instructions, and leave for the airport.
At the airport, we pull our bags out and try for curbside check-in. One of the bags was two pounds over the limit so we did some quick re-arranging. Checking our bags was pretty scary. Even after they were checked, we went back and asked if the gentleman that checked us in knew of anything else we could do to make sure our bags made it. He listened to our story (only laughing occasionally) and then kindly gave us some suggestions. I made sure to take a picture of each bag and we made sure each bag had a tag with our info on it. We left the bags and went inside. Going through the security check-point was another event. Selo went through with no problem, but I was stopped. And checked. Twice. I had made sure I didn't have any liquids or aerosols or gels in my bags, but I didn't know I couldn't take lip gloss. Well normally I would just throw it away, but since I had JUST bought it and it was expensive (everything for a wedding is expensive) I wanted to keep it. The lady at the counter told me that if I ran -RAN- they could grab my bag and I could put my stuff in there. So I RAN. When I got to the Delta Baggage Center, I was told they couldn't get my suitcase back. Okay so what are my options? She gave me a little tiny box with some bubble packaging and told me I could check it as an additional item. I thanked her and RAN to the Delta check-in counter. I was on the phone with my Grandma *just in case* they wouldn't let me check it. But they did. I even had a good conversation with the lady behind the counter about the perfume I was wearing. (Basic Instinct). She checked my tiny box, I handed it to the baggage gentleman, thanked them both and ran back to the security check-point. They smiled when they saw me again, and laughed when I was stopped and my bag had to be searched- again. They had missed a Listerine Spray. Just toss it! They waved goodbye and I was free to dash to the gate. We made it just in time.
We boarded the plane -together this time!- and got ready for take-off. I was ready to sit back and relax. I was excited to hear the in flight movie was Posiden, a movie I had been wanting to see. After my hectic last few days, a nice relaxing movie was just what I wanted. HA! Have you SEEN Posiden? Not relaxing. See, I have this fear of being trapped and drowning. Posiden was NOT the movie for me watch to relax. If you have seen that movie, then you know what I am talking about. The good thing, is that I was so overwhelmed by emotion, I cried. I hate crying. But I needed it. Selo saw me and wrapped his arms around me. He let me just be and held me. It was good to get some of that stress out. After the movie I fell asleep, and Selo cuddled up to me and took a nap. Our flight landed -roughly- and we prepared to run to our connection. We had very little time.
As we exited the ramp we could barely make it in the airport because it was so crowded. Kinda weird for nine-thirty at night, even in Atlanta. And then we find out the Atlanta airport had been closed earlier that day due to bad weather. Flights have been cancelled. Those that haven't been cancelled -yet- have been delayed several times. Several meaning at least six or seven. All flights were at least double booked. Our flight was delayed three hours at that point. But since it was just me and Selo this time (No Granny, no kids) we were okay. We can handle staying up all night and sitting on the floor -if we could find somewhere- to wait. We walked around and got some food. We did a little browsing, and then went back to the gate. We wanted to be there so we were very well aware of what changes were going to happen when they happened. We were even more nervous about our luggage at this point, but what could we do? So we sat and waited. Our gate was moved twice, the plane was changed, the flight attendants were moved to another plane, and the flight itself was delayed another three times. Thank heavens for electrical outlets. A lot of what you are reading was typed during this time frame. Anyway, we finally boarded the plane and buckled up. We were ready to go.
The flight from Atlanta to Charlotte was about an hour. Short and sweet. Good. We landed in Charlotte about 3:45AM. If you remember reading at the beginning of this story, the Charlotte airport is closed between midnight and 4:30AM. The workers there at the airport were about as tired as we were. But they were kind and understanding. They did their best to get us off the plane and to the luggage carousel as quickly as possible.
Now for the moment of truth. Did our luggage make it? We were the only flight there in the whole airport, so it wasn't difficult to perch myself near the carousel so I could pull our bags when they came by. Selo -along with the other companions- settled themselves on the floor to wait. The carousel starts and luggage starts rolling. But not a lot of it is being pulled. Strange. The same suitcases are going by twice, three times, and now four. Selo and I are making jokes about what color suitcases we want for our wedding. This pink one? Or how about that bright purple one over there? It's very noticeable. Oh better idea! Lets get suitcases where we can embroider the name of where ever we are going on the front! That way the don't get lost. People around us are joining in our conversation and everyone starts laying claim on which suitcases they want. We have a carousel full of luggage, a terminal full of people wanting their luggage, and no matches. But I got one thing! The little tiny box I had checked very last made it. Yay for little boxes of lip gloss. At least my lips are taken care of. LOL The airline must have priorities right? The line for lost luggage is vaguely familiar. It looks just like the line that was waiting for our plane! I feel like I am standing amidst long time friends! Selo and I pull up some ground and a wall, plug in our laptops and camera, and set up our little office on the floor. I continue typing my novel (the one you are reading now) and make sure my camera has battery power. I am really glad we took pictures of the luggage this time. Thirty minutes later we stand up and are the last ones through the line. We show the luggage gentleman the pictures of our luggage and he says that's the easiest and best description he has ever had in his eleven years of working for the airline. *feels smart* He gives us our info and hands us these little tiny bags, Personal Item Bags. They have stuff like a toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, detergent, razor and creme, and a clean Tshirt. The outside of the bag says Caring more about you. I can't help but bust out laughing. He looks confused for a second, and then just laughs with relief. He tells us he is the afternoon shift, and has not been home yet. He hasn't slept and has been dealing with angry onry tired and cranky people all night. I apologize for laughing and let him know, after everything else, I'm just glad to be home. He laughs and thanks us for being so polite and nice. We leave his office and he packs up to go home- finally. Personally I am glad he was able to leave work on a better note. Then we board the long term parking bus. The nice lady driving the bus was in the same situation. She had come to work for her normal afternoon shift at 2:00PM and had been asked to stay until the last flight had come in. (There was one flight before us, and then our flight.) I asked her if she would be able to leave now since we were the last two people from that flight. She said that she would be able to leave now because the morning shift was there. Holy cow it was after 4:30!
We get to the car, and start putting our backpacks into the back seat. I want to crawl into the back seat and go to sleep, but Selo needs someone to help him stay awake. So Selo opens my door for me (like he always does) and something falls out. We both groan and look at each other because we know exactly what it is. Yep, you got it. Selo and I get into the car and drive around the airport back to the front. I wait in the car while Selo goes inside to talk to the ticket counter. Guess who pulls him out of line? James R!! JR listens to Selo's story (the rest of it anyway) and feels so bad. He gives Selo a voucher for some money off his next ticket and promises to help Selo with trying to get a refund on his un-used plane ticket. No guarantees, but he says he will try. JR has done a lot for Selo and we are very grateful to him for it. Selo leaves the airport with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. What a relief! He has been through so much, I didn't want him to have something else to worry about. We get on the road, and make it home safely.
We pull into the driveway after 7AM this morning. We drug ourselves into the house and went right to our respective beds. We slept for a few hours and then woke up and got to work. There were animals to feed and a novel to finish. The phone was ringing every time plans changed in Utah. (Thank you Grandma Davis for keeping me informed of everything!) I checked our bags online and it says they are found. They should be delivered tomorrow sometime. We shall see. I am a little worried that the airport will deliver the wrong bags again, but at least if they do, it is on their dollar. Tonight Selo and I are going to have dinner with the Waddell's. This is a good friend of Grandma Davis' and where Selo will be staying for a little while.
Monday Night
Selo and I just got home from a wonderful dinner, and guess what is on our front porch. Four bags of luggage- the right luggage! I guess the airline delivery service was more on the ball than they thought. Hey no objections. We are glad to have our luggage.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my novel. When I first started writing it, I was mad. M.A.D. But the more I wrote, the more I laughed. I have learned many lessons and practiced many things this weekend. Patience being a main one. God is very well aware that this is not one of my strong points and he gave me lots of opportunity to work on it. Understanding, motivation, and endurance are some others. Good old southern kindness to others is something I have been brought up with, and I was able to put to use this weekend. Most of all, God has taught me about laughter and prayer. I have done a lot of praying this weekend, and I have done a lot of laughing at myself. I will be working this whole week to get a picture journal up of the events so you can see some of the 300 pictures we took. I will post that once I have it completed. Don't worry, I'm not posting all 300 hundred pics. Just a few highlights with captions. So once again, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed. Please feel free to leave me some comments. LOL I would love to hear them!
