Flying Experiences

I walked at a brisk pace from Gate D, took the elevator to ground level, and took the tram to Gate B.

I began climbing up the escalator steps, but about halfway up, I stopped. I was gasping for breath, and I let the escalator take me the rest of the way up.

Once I reached the top, I found myself among several restaurants and shops.

I started walking briskly toward Gate 34B, beginning with Gate 20.

My mouth became dry; it felt like I had swallowed a large ball of cotton.

I continued my journey to Gate 34B after stopping at the water fountain.

I checked in and was followed by a young man panting profoundly.

We both boarded Delta Flight 935, and the question everyone had on their faces was 

What Happened? Why are you so late?

The flight was waiting for an older couple who were walking like turtles. 

Two women were sitting in my section, so I took my seat, 34C, next to the window. The two women had just disembarked from a cruise and were heading home. 

We struck up a conversation, and the woman next to me said she didn't know her father was blind until she was sixteen.

She said my father could do everything; he made furniture, and he could work on cars.

She said once a salesman came by to talk to my father, and the man said to my brother, Your father does not like me.

He said I held out my hand for him to shake several times, but he never responded. Then my brother said, My father is blind.

I had made a connection with this woman, but never knew her name.

When we got off the airplane, we hugged each other and said goodbye, never to meet again.

Muscle Shoals to Atlanta, Ga 

The couple in front of me said they were going to Maryland for a Medical conference. I told them that I was going to Los Angeles. When they exited the airplane, they said Enjoy your trip.

All the luggage with wheels had to be stored below on the plane, so when we landed, my cousin and I had to collect our luggage from the cart.

We boarded the plane, and I was struggling with the handle on my suitcase as we began climbing the two flights of stairs. Somehow, I lost control of my suitcase, and it started its descent back down the stairs, only to be caught by the man who had been talking to my cousin on the plane. He had told my cousin that he was a pilot and was headed to Atlanta. He said that for the next seven days, he would be making short trips, and soon, he would be taking trips from Atlanta to Europe.

I thanked the pilot, and we started looking for our next stop, Gate T.

From Atlanta to Los Angeles ✈

We took the escalator downstairs to the Tram.

Embarked on the tram and walked across a couple of slow-moving conveyors. I saw this beautiful art display of Zimbabwe Sculptures, took out my camera, and started taking pictures. I didn't realize there were so many statues. 

My cousin took my luggage along with her so I could take pictures. 

I became so obsessed with taking pictures that we walked right past the escalator we needed to take to our gate. 

My cousin fell onto her knees as we entered the tram. 

She said someone stopped in front of her as she entered the tram, causing her to fall to the ground. 

A man offered to help her up, but she said she was okay, and I just stood there dazed. 

I was not holding on when the tram began, and a man put his arm around my waist to keep me from falling.

We exited the tram and went up the escalators to Gate T, where we settled down to eat.

Hubby had stopped at Hardee's and bought us some sausage, egg biscuits, Bacon, and cheese biscuits. 

We bought a bottled drink at the airport. 

We were served pretzels and drinks once we were up in the air and the seatbelt sign was turned off. 

For lunch, we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, as well as chicken salad sandwiches.

I took out my camera and started taking pictures; I captured over 200 during the flight.

We flew from Atlanta, GA, toward Birmingham, AL, toward Starkville, MS, toward Greenwood, MS, through Texarkana, AK, Withcfalls Ok, Albuquerque, NM, Flagstaff, AZ, Boulder City, Nevada, (where we saw the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam) and the snow-capped Rockies Mountains (what was left of the snow). We flew near Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The area that followed along Interstate 40 into the Los Angeles International Airport.

It was neat looking at the land from the airplane and how the view changed by the state. In Arizona, you can see the mountainous and sandy desert, in New Mexico, the circles and squares of the land, and upon landing in LA, the monopoly of houses that cover the land. In some areas, you could see lots of clouds floating and their shadows on the ground below. 

We landed at LAX, collected our luggage, and walked outside to catch the Flyway.

I boarded the airplane.

To my left was a University of Alabama student who was flying to Birmingham. 

We talked for a few minutes, and she started using her iPhone. 

To my right sat a man who was on a business trip to Fort Lauderdale. 

As we looked toward the sky, this incredible view came into sight. 

It was a cluster of clouds with the outline of the jet.

I said that would make a great picture, but I did not have my camera handy.

The man was a former military personnel who lived in Virginia Beach and enjoyed traveling and taking pictures. 

I went through security without any problems and walked to the gate and the waiting area. 

I sat down, and a lovely woman named Eunice said, 'The strap on your dress is showing. Come over here, and I will fix it.' 

We started talking, and I moved closer to hear her. 

She said she was a traveling minister. 

We talked about religion and politics. 

She was in a wheelchair and needed assistance boarding the airplane. 

I saw her again when she boarded the plane. She sat in the first-class section. 

I said goodbye when she left the airplane and wished her good luck, and I did not see her again.

I walked toward my gate and loading area, which was US Airways #3115 from Charlotte Douglas (CLT) to Nashville, departing at 9:55 A.M. and arriving at 10:29 A.M. 

I purchased a Coke and a bag of chips because I hadn't eaten anything and was getting hungry. 

I boarded the jet and sat next to the window seat 10A, and a young man sat on the aisle seat next to me. 

We started talking, and he said he was from Newport News, VA. He was a BA for IBEW Electricians in this area. 

I said Hubby was an electrician and a member of Local 558 in Sheffield, AL. 

He was traveling to Nashville for a district meeting on healthcare for Electricians. We discussed the union and healthcare. 

When the plane landed, we said goodbye, and I called Hubby.

Once the jet was airborne and the seatbelt sign had been turned off, the man sitting in the aisle seat took out his computer and handed me my camera bag. It was a beautiful day, and as we neared Maryland, I started snapping pictures of the area below.

We were served drinks and peanuts on the flight. When we arrived in Maryland, everyone got off the plane except those going to Hartford, Connecticut. There was a headcount of seventeen, including one woman in a wheelchair. 

Our flight was to be a One-stop flight with no transfer of planes; that was the schedule.

We were instructed to disembark from the flight and proceed to gate B. 

We were the first to board the flight. I sat in the front aisle seat.

Next to the window was a man from Nashville, Tennessee, who was visiting his son in Hartford, Connecticut. 

He said he had four children, and his wife was short, about 5'1 "tall, and full of energy, and that I reminded him of her. 

Traveling from Orlando to Birmingham

We checked in with Southwest Airlines.

They said that the plane was scheduled to leave at 5:10, and it was 4:45 P.M.  

They went ahead and checked our bags and Meadows's wheelchair. 

We walked through security, and I passed through without incident.

Security went off when Lora walked through; she had to walk through again. 

Lora had a roll of quarters inside her purse.

Marcus's bag had two snow globes from SeaWorld that were not allowed to go through, and Madison had a tub of mud that was not allowed on the plane. 

We still had to take the tram over to load onto the airplane. 

Lora and a security guard walked over to SeaWorld's gift shop.

There, they wrapped the snow globes and had them shipped to her house.

I went ballistic because I thought we were going to miss our plane.

I called my husband and said I think we're going to miss our flight.

Finally, Lora and the kids come walking through, and we rush to the airplane.

They were calling our names for the last boarding. 

We took off running. I was pushing Meadow, running as fast as I could.

We made it, and I let out a thank you 

We got on the plane, and Lora proceeded to fasten the car seat.

I was so flustered that I needed help fastening my seatbelt

By this time, we were taking off down the runway. 

The plane was in the air.

We were given a snack of pretzels and sodas.

It took us a little over an hour to get to Birmingham Airport. 

We went to baggage claim and retrieved our luggage.

London to Atlanta 

We walked to the waiting area after checking in. We boarded the plane and were getting hungry because the flight attendant was late serving lunch.

Amelia and I ate the cookies and chips that we brought with us. 

We watched some TV, a movie, and read a book, and before we knew it, we were home in the good old USA. 

We had a good flight home.

The ground was covered with rain and fog when the pilots landed at the Atlanta International Airport.

We went through customs down the escalator and were greeted by guard dogs waiting there to sniff for drugs. 

Our luggage was placed on the scanner to make sure that we were not bringing drugs into the country.

Amelia was wearing a metal hair bow, and it triggered the scanner as she walked through it.

Amelia was taken to the side, and security wanded her down.

Soon, we will be on our flight to Huntsville.

We boarded the plane at 7:45 A.M. from Huntsville International Airport and headed to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. 

I sat in row 30 right next to the jet's engine, and the roar was so loud that I could not hear myself think. 

Orbits called me at Huntsville International Airport to let me know that there was a delay in our flight, which we had been aware of for thirty minutes. 

We missed our connecting flight to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport because of the delay in Huntsville. 

We went to Gate A15 to catch the next flight out, but it was full. Then, they sent us to Gate A14, and it was also full. 

Finally, I said, 'Just give us a confirmed flight number,' so they replied that our next flight would be at 3:55 P.M. 

We went to McDonald's in the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to eat lunch.

The flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International to LAX was charming. 

I was bumped up to first class, and I got to sit in the steward's rest area.

My seat would recline into a bed.  I had my own television screen.

I sat next to an army soldier (who was also bumped up to first class with me) who was going home to Hawaii.

He had been to Maine and was returning home.

He said I have four children, all boys, ages 20, 15, 10, and 6, and my oldest son is in the army.

One of the stewards called us the King and Queen of the airplane because of where we were sitting. 

These were the best seats in the house!

Muscle Shoals to Lexington, Ky 

We loaded the diaper bag and my camera bag, which I take with me everywhere I go, to document Meadow's experiences and ourselves into the airplane.

We flew from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to Lexington, Kentucky, in the airplane that seats six people; Meadow buckled into her car seat.

Meadow sat facing the sun, so she closed her eyes and slept most of the flight.

Lora spent the first fifteen minutes filling out paperwork for Meadows' doctors' appointments. 

Everyone put on earphones so we could communicate with each other, discuss the flight plans, speed, altitude, weather, skis' right of way, landing, and takeoff. 

I brought my camera this time so I could take pictures. 

Inside the airplane, I took several pictures of Meadow. She was laughing and enjoying the plane ride. 

Lora and I had to wear large headphones so we could talk with the pilot.

Therefore, we took pictures of each other wearing headphones. 

We flew low enough for me to take some awesome pictures of the ground below. 

I took several pictures of a boat chugging along the Tennessee River toward the locks at Wilson Dam.

I took pictures of the Marriott Hotel and the Renaissance Tower, which stands behind it. 

For miles, I could see green trees, buildings with smoke emanating from their tops, a white water tower, and the flow of the Tennessee River.

Then we flew over the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course; what a view! It looked like a video game, with all the crooked paths, sand traps, and clubhouse. 

We left the Tennessee Valley, flying through Tennessee and Kentucky. All the while, I took pictures of the lush greenery, various land shapes, hills, valleys, busy streets, houses, factories, and swimming pools. 

Kentucky presented a totally different view, with the brilliant glow of the Kentucky Bluegrass, acres and acres of horse tracks, green-roofed barns, lush green fields filled with Kentucky-bred racing horses, and miles of white fencing. 

Our pilot gave Meadow a TEC Air lanyard and neck strap, which we put around her neck. 

Kentucky to Muscle Shoals 

It was very hot up in the bright white clouds, and these clouds were coming off a storm that was brewing in the Gulf, which caused a lot of turbulence.

There was turbulence in the Gulf that affected everyone flying in the eastern area.

This caused the Memphis, Tennessee, Airport to experience radar problems, which in turn altered our flight pattern.

My daughter said I prayed all the way home that we would make the flight. 

I was upfront as a co-pilot talking to the pilot, Mr. Pride. 

The pilot talks about his family. He said that all his family were musicians, and most of them were engineers. 

Mr. Pride said, "I have flown for many years, and I love working with the Angle flight."

We sat near the front of the plane in seats 20 A, B, and C.

All our carry-on baggage is stored in the compartment above our heads. 

We slept most of the way to Denver, Colorado. 

I used the restroom twice during our flight.

On one of those trips, my foot tangled in the straps of Meadow's diaper bag. 

Lora was still asleep, so I had to wake her up so she could help me untangle my foot.

Our flight from Nashville was delayed; we had to wait for another plane to taxi off, and they were late taking off, causing our flight to be late, which in turn caused us to be late for our connecting flight in Denver.

During our last descent into the Denver Airport, the flight attendant said over the intercom, Please, if you do not have a connecting flight, stay in your seats.

Since we were in front of the plane and we had a connecting flight, we were the first to leave. 

I took Meadow out of her car seat, rushed up the walkway, carrying her in my arms, and walked to the ticket counter for our connecting flight. 

The person at the ticket counter said, "We have given your seats to someone else since the doors had not been closed for the flight's competition. We will have to ask the people whom we have given your seats to get off the airplane." 

Lora had to stay behind to wait for Meadow's wheelchair, and our luggage was brought up from the bottom of the plane and transferred to our connecting plane before she could board with us.

We are flying with Frontier Airlines, and the plane we are currently flying on has a porcupine design on its wings and tail. 

I sat in the aisle seat, Meadow in the middle seat, and Lora next to the window.

During the flight, I ordered a drink and a small package of cookies. Meadow slept during most of the flight.

We saw the snow-capped, foggy Rocky Mountains from the airplane, where the landscape looked like chocolate-swirled ice cream.🍦

Lora was sitting next to the window, so she took several pictures of the snowy mountain range.

I tried to watch "A Harry Potter movie," but I kept falling asleep.💤

From Huntsville to Atlanta to Montreal, Canada 

We had to go to the ticket counter in Huntsville because our tickets would not print online.

We went through security, and when we arrived at our gate, they were already loading, and we were in Zone 5.

It took us about 30 minutes, and we were in Atlanta. 

We got off the plane, and our next gate was D9.

So, we had to take the tram to Gate D and then use the escalator to go up and down a hallway. 

The next zone was 7

We boarded the plane, and there were three of us in our row.

Sitting next to Hubby was a lady from Atlanta, but born in Montreal. 

She was going home to visit her family. 

We arrived at the Montreal airport. 

We were sent to a Keyost machine, which scanned our passport cards and faces, took photographs, and provided us with a printout. 

We got into another line where

We were asked why we were in Canada. 

We told them we were taking a cruise. 

We walked through another area, where we handed over our prints to the guards. 

A lady from NCL met us and escorted us to our taxi, which then took us to our hotel.