Adventures! Enjoy the journey!

I was really excited about having a few days off to visit Sheridan and tend the kids so Amy and Joe could have a few days away. But when I left work early on Thursday, I wondered where the knot in my stomach was coming from. James was kind enough to drop me off at the airport at about 4:30 and my 21 hour adventure to get to Sheridan began. (Yes, it takes 9 hours to drive it) James dropped me off at the sky cap thinking that would be the fastest way to get through. I was surprised to learn that if you have a paper ticket, you can not use the sky cap or the express lines down stairs. You have to see a real person. So I waited in line to see the real person. She took my ticket and explained the the plane was a little delayed. But I should still make it to Denver with 15-20 minutes to spare. (I had an hour originally) I started to the gate with plenty of time to spare. I made it through security without problems and down to the gate. I was only at the gate a few minutes when they announced that my plane would delayed about an hour. That meant that I wouldn't make my connection in Denver. I got in the long line to check other options, when the announcement was made that the Plane hadn't left Denver yet and the delay would be about 1 1/2 hours. When I got to the head of the line, I explained my problem to the nice lady and she checked to see if there was another airline that had a plane that would make the connection. She found one on Frontier and made the change I thought. I took my paper work and headed to the A terminal (I was in the B terminal). When I got there I stood at the from desk waiting for the attendant to come. When he got there, he told me that United had not booked the flight like they told me, but that he could take care of it. He only had one problem. United had not given me back the correct paper work and that I would have to go through security again. He called a security officer to come. I was not aware that they were checking to make sure I had not somehow got through without going through the correct check points. (I don't think I am smart enough to know how to do that). Thus, I was checked or as the security guard put it, I have to frisk you, so spread your arms and legs. They even checked the front of my bra to make sure there wasn't something there. They didn't just use the wand--I had a pat down. After I passed that, they proceeded to go through my purse, even checking my wallet looking at my credit cards and other id in my wallet and then they emptied my suit case--yes they took everything out. They commented on how nice and neat I had packed and they were sorry the mess it up so much. No surprise to me, I pass the security check. By then most of the passenger's had already boarded and I was one of the last to get on the plane. As I showed my boarding pass--yes-- again he told me that I couldn't boarded because the security person had not signed it correctly. They had to call security back to sign my boarding pass. I finally made it on the plane and even on the front row. But did we take off on time--heavens no--for some reason we sat on the run way for a time and waited. I kept looking at my watch and thinking there is no way that we are going to make it. I just kept hoping that we could make up some time in the air- or the other plane would also be delayed. We not only didn't make up time in the air, we had bad weather and were slowed down. We landed at 8:22--the time my connection was to take off. Are there miracles--not for me that day. As they started to open the doors to get off--you got it, the power went off and the doors wouldn't open. It wasn't off long and I was one of the first people off the plane.

I had asked in advance if they could tell me what gate I needed to go to and no one could. After asking 3 people at the airport, where Great Lakes Airlines was, one person pointed down the hall way. We landed on gate 23 and I had to run to gate 63. In Denver--that is a long way. I started to run--we all know that I don't run very fast-and I had my suitcase. I ran as fast as I could only to see the plane leaving as I got to the gate. I wanted to cry. Here I was in Denver and the next plane to Sheridan was the next day at 11:00 a.m. Amy and Joe were to leave Billings the next day at 11:30. I didn't have many options.

When I left Salt Lake, United Airlines had told me that if I didn't make my connection, they would put me up in a hotel on them. I didn't want to do that, but I didn't know what else to do. So, after calling Amy, I proceeded to find that United Airlines Customer Service. You should have seen the line. I wasn't the only one that had missed a connection. The first person I talked to asked me my name and he looked at his list--I could tell by the look on his face, that there was a problem. I said let me guess-I am not on that list. He said oh, you are on the list, but you are a no show, so there isn't anything we can do. Then I wanted to cry--but to your surprise I didn't. I stood in that long line and talked to a very nice lady. She checked the computer and saw that it was United's fault that I missed my connection and gave me the voucher for a hotel and breakfast . But, the hotel that they usually used was booked up and they had to bus us 30 miles away. So I finally made it to the motel at 10:45 that night. I was emotionally spent. It was a very nice hotel and that helped.

I didn't sleep very well, I kept dreaming that I was missing another plane and couldn't get to the kids-go figure. The shuttle to the airport only left once an hour, so I took the 8:00 shuttle because I wanted to make sure I was there in time. I was all checked in and through security by 9:00. I had 2 hours to wait. I got me some breakfast and went to the gate to wait. At 10:30, the airline paged me and said I hadn't checked in for the flight--but yes I had. So I went to the gate and that had me down twice--I guess 2 seats are better than one. I asked if the plane was on time and they said yes. I thought maybe I am going to make it. Amy had left the kids with a neighbor and I was to call the neighbor when I boarded the plane so she could come and pick me up. I called her as the announcement came on the intercom that the plane to Sheridan, WY would be delayed. I couldn't believe it or maybe I did. Was going to Sheridan to tend the kids really in the plans? That plane was delayed for 40 minutes and finally I arrived in Sheridan at 1:30 Friday afternoon. Should I be nervous about going home? I might add that my plane to Sheridan was a small plane--20 seats. The captain helped board us. We only had 8 on the plane.