Turbulence. As in “we are experiencing some turbulence....” Not my idea of fun, when flying the not-so-friendly skies in a big silver bird. Hmmmm....So, my dear friend, Tom, picked me up this morning to go to the airport. Not Podunk International Airport. We did pass it on our way to the 99 on ramp, but we didn't stop there. We went north on 99 to the nearest real airport, an hour away.
It was fun to spend time with Tom. He is one of my dearest friends. We had a chance to catch up on what is going on in each of our lives. He is my friend who's a guy, and I am his friend who's a girl. It is nice to have such a good friend of the opposite sex. No romantic notions to interfere with our friendship.
But, back to the turbulence. I am not fond of flying at all, and turbulence does not enhance the experience for me. By the time the pilot announced that we were having it, we all knew already. So, a bumpy ride into PHX. That's Sky Harbor, in Phoenix, for the uninitiated.
Of course, I had an hour layover, and planned to find something to eat. What I didn't realize was that my arrival gate, and the next departure gate, were at opposite ends of two adjoining terminals. In other words, quite a hike.
And the terminals were crowded, too. It was mid afternoon in Arizona. My stomach was telling me it was lunch time in Podunk, CA. Alas, I was unwilling to take a chance on missing my plane in order to stand in line for pizza or some other gourmet treat. Besides, I spent my standing in line time waiting to get into the ladies' room.
I am getting smarter at this flying thing: stand close to the boarding doors, even before they start calling for passengers to board. Sure, the infirm, children, and First Class get to go first but guess what?? If you are close, and quick, you can get on the plane as soon as they call for Zone 3 (as this airlines calls it) and if you are lucky, you can stow your carry-on somewhere in the vicinity of your assigned seat.
On the connector flight into Phoenix, I was the lone passenger on my row, on my side of the plane. I had plenty of room to spread out and relax. I heard that the flight to Chicago was full, so that wouldn't happen again, I was sure.
Well, as they were getting ready to close the door and taxi out for takeoff, there was just me, at the window, and a gentleman in the aisle seat. As the Flight Attendant went by, he asked her if he could move to a vacant window seat, and she said he could. So, once again, I was the solo passenger in my row of three seats, on my side of the plane!
I did have someone to talk to, sorta. There was a young couple in the seats in front of me, and they had their ten-month-old baby girl with them. She and I played peek-a-boo until we both decided to take a nap....
And then, since I hadn't eaten all day, I purchased the World Famous “Snack Box” for a mere six dollars. I got chips and salsa, crackers and Gouda cheese, chocolate chip cookies, trail mix and a Toblerone chocolate bar. I saved the candy bar and the trail mix....they'll come in handy later, I'm sure.
So now, as I look at the time on my laptop, I am confused. I know we are landing at 8:30 in Chicago. And I know that Chicago is on Central Time.....so.....I guess it's 7:00, and I have another hour and a half until we reach O'Hare. This is a first for me: writing a blog 35.000+ feet in the sky!
That baby in the row in front of me is still sleeping, so there's nobody to play peek-a-boo with, so I guess I'll listen to my iPod.
Don't tell Jon that I'm still listening to his music, K?
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