We can’t sleep in today. Our flight back is at 1105 and it’s an hour to the airport. Of course the 2 hour before thing to get through security is in place. So we need to leave by 8. An hour to get ready, no breakfast, puts us at 7 am rise. I love getting up early because 7 am is 4 am CA time. Nice, right? Right.
We spent our hour wisely and got cleaned, dressed and packed and down to the lobby by 8. No one else was there. Driver, Doug, arrived at 813. The three youngsters, led by Rachel Sanford arrived around 830. Time to go kids.
Ride to Cleveland was without event. Good. Took an hour. Everyone on hangover mode so quiet too.
At airport, hugs an kisses, goodbyes. All the stuff it’s always sad to leave. But, I get to go home. That’s a happy day.
The airline had a backup at check-in, took ten minutes for luggage and boarding pass. Not bad.
To security. Remember the 2 hour rule. We used that. Miserable. Why is it a similar size airport, say Sacramento, can get twice the line through in half the time? What’s different in Cleveland? I’m goin with bad management. I hate the TSA anyway. Totally worthless organization.
They provide a false sense of security by searching people who are not going to do anything anyway. And we stand in line for it. Put up with it. If you complain they put you through the back room search for no other reason than to show their power. First ones up against the wall.
Once past security there is a sense of normalcy. We no longer have to stand in lines and be on the lookout for jack booted thugs. We found our gat, each hit the head and then sat and waited for our flight.
And wait. And wait. Half the passengers loaded. And then it happened. Over the loud speaker, the captain of our flight wanted to wait for another weather report before continuing. Proceed to offload the plane. For those of you not familiar with the jargon, it meant those on the plane had to get off. Deplane as the midget always said.
Now we get to double our worries. We have a connection in Denver and a 50 minute window to work with there. Fortunately, I have nothing to do when I get home save eat dinner and feed the dog. So if I end up getting in late, so be it. And, I get all the joy of sitting in an airport. Just short of trying sleep in an airport joy.
It must be a great day. 30 minutes later boarding and reboarding started. Is it still a privilege to board first when you have already boarded once before? I hope not. Entitled pricks.
Our seat, again, is at the very back of the plane. Very convenient in terms of the restroom but socially inconvenient in terms of other passengers and getting off the damn plane.
Well I would like to say the flight was boring. But if I’m writing about it, it wasn’t. There was the fun of extreme turbulence on takeoff and again on approach to Denver and my favorite – the full power landing. I sat next to a gentleman once long ago who explained it. We having just experienced it that day. With severe winds the pilot uses full power to control the plane and they come in hot. The gentleman had been on a flight to Iowa City, I think, and the plane that day hit the ground hard under full power, and the plane broke into 3 pieces and 110 people died. He had been nice enough to share that after we landed. But, now, I recognize every time a full power landing and I hold on for dear life. Turbulence means funky wind. Sorry to have told all of you.
A little good news, though we landed late our Sacramento plane had not arrived and was delayed thirty minutes. A little bad and a little good. Now we had time for ice cream which I had suggested to Emily who almost upchucked on the flight to Denver. No barf bags available and plane was on lockdown so can’t go find one.
So we sat. Quite a time. Ate some ice cream. That was particularly good. Overpriced airport ice cream. Oh well. I read a book. Emily continued to look sick.
Hey, guess what, I get to write about takeoff and leaving the CO mountains. Again, only when exciting do I write. What a day.
Takeoff. Same shit an hour later. Extreme turbulence. Twice. On takeoff and as we passed over the Rockies. And, we got the full power climb up to try and get us out of the crap. I would say, did not work. This time the plane had barf bags which I had checked for when I got on the plane. You know, fool me once and all. Emily was across the aisle doing same. We learn.
The rest of the flight, which is almost in Sacramento, boring. Yay. I finished the sequel to the Handmaids Tale. And I recommend it. Read them in order of publication if you want a good understanding. Author did a fantastic job creating a dystopian society. Not so easy a thing as some have told me.
Flight continued. Pretzels and coffee. Guy next to me kept trying to sleep on my shoulder. He was neither fat nor sweaty. A good omen I believe. Though I did aggressively dissuade his encroachment. Which is probably why he woke up. I don’t much care for his well being. Not in a metal tube at least.
We are flying over the Sierras, they are beautiful on a clear sunny day. Especially true when I am heading home. I like going home. Travel has its place but I prefer to eat, sleep and recreate at or from home. I do find my spirits lifting. It’s a great day.
It is so smooth flying over the Sierras I believe we are being rewarded for staying the course. It’s just pleasant. And, I just signaled Emily across the aisle and she is thumbs up so not air sick. I waved a bag at her. I try to be subtle.
I should mention, the Sacramento airport is probably the best airport in the entire world. Most of the time. Today definitely. No reason, today, except I am so happy to finally be here.
Not much to the rest of the day. We drove home. Made dinner with Marika. Mostly her. Relaxed a little and unpacked and off to bed early.