For those of you who have been patiently waiting to hear how
Tinker Bell went, I apologize for it taking so long to start this update. But at
long last, here it is.
January 18th, 2013, it was finally time to start
the weekend that I had spent 7 months training for. I worked a half day and then headed on out to the
airport. The day before, I was able to check in for the first leg of my flight,
but was not given a seat assignment.
I was told that I would get my second boarding pass and seat assignment
at the gate.
For whatever reason, I am a bit of a nervous flyer…not that
flying makes me nervous, the being on time, security, and the catching the
flight makes me nervous. I think
it’s because I’ve built up some excitement for the trip and want everything to
go smoothly. Not getting my seat assignment or the boarding pass for the second
leg of my trip made me a little nervous to begin with, but when the adventure
started, it was like sitting on pins and needles.
I arrived at the gate and approached the podium to explain
that I needed a seat and a boarding pass for my next flight. They told me that they would call my
name and get me both once they started boarding the plane…WHA???? Now the
things that are going through my head are, “Is the flight over sold? I’ve had my ticket since November! They
can’t boot me off!” “Am I going to get a seat???” “Are they going to ask for
volunteers to not take this flight?” and “I’m not volunteering!” Then they made an announcement from the
podium stating that they would appreciate all larger carry on bags to be
checked at the gate. They would be
checked to the final destination rather than pick it up during my layover. So I
thought, “I’ll check my bag and then they have to let me on the plane.” So I did. I still didn’t have a seat assignment.
Sitting down, I tried to be patient, but I nervously waited
for my name to be called. They started boarding the first zone, then the second
zone. Finally as they boarded the third zone, they called 5 names…none of those
names mine. Ugh! Then they called
4 more names, mine being one of them (whew!). Receiving my boarding passes, I
looked at my seating assignment for this flight and thought, “Wow! I think I’m
at the back of the plane.” Sure enough. Very last row, window seat. Oh well. I’m thankful to be on the
flight and it’s only 45-minutes to Salt Lake City.
As I sat down, I started to think, “oh man! All of my event
gear is in that checked bag! If they lose my luggage, I’m in trouble!” Then I
prayed over it, finished getting settled in my seat and looked up and saw a
handsome man looking at me. Luggage completely forgotten, he scooted in next to
me and sat down and said something like, “Sorry that you are stuck with me.” I
was thinking that I could think of worse situations.
Then, a handsome man came and sat next to him. I start
looking around and found that I am literally surrounded by handsome men. They
filled up the entire row in front of me and across the aisle, and in my
row. As it turns out, these men
are part of the Meridian Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band (Bagpipes, that is).
I got a huge smile on my face. This last row next to the window seat is not a
bad seat at all.
Some of the band members had just gotten back from playing
for a funeral in Alaska. I got to tell them about my experience in Scotland
listening to the Military Tattoo (120 bag pipers piping at the Edinburgh Castle,
and about the solo piper up in a window of the castle as the sun is going down
playing “Amazing Grace”). We talked about time spent in Alaska, and where these
pipers were headed. They were on their way to Washington DC to play in the
Inaugural Parade. Before we took off, a flight attendant offered to take their
picture. I said out loud, more to myself then to anyone else, “I could either
photo bomb or I could duck behind the seat. There were several, “Get in the
picture! Get in the picture!” responses…so I did.
To read about the Meridian Firefighter Pipes and Drums band
and their history Click Here.
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I found this photo on the Meridian Fire Fighter
Pipes and Drums FaceBook page.
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We arrived in Salt Lake and there were traveling wishes
passed on to everyone. Then I went
to catch my flight to Anaheim feeling good.
Ever been in a situation where you just feel slimed? Talk
about a completely different experience.
I got an aisle seat and sat down next to the person already
in the center seat. The window
seat wasn’t taken yet. Pretty soon, this man comes to sit down. I got up to let him in, but the person
in the center did not stand up. In fact, this person makes the man climb over
to get to his seat, and while climbing over, puts hands on his back and
legs. WHA??? As I sit down, it
becomes obvious that they know each other. Please note that I have been
referring to “This Person” as “This person” because I seriously could not tell
by looking at her/him. I wasn’t
trying to eavesdrop, but the conversation that consisted of every other word
being a swear word, well, it was hard not to hear the conversation. In the
course of trying not to eavesdrop, I found out that questionable gender was a
female, and the content of the conversation made me feel gross. I mentally
tried to get myself back in to the last row window seat of my last flight.
Finally, as the plane took off, the conversation stopped as
they became engrossed in a movie that she had brought. Thank goodness.
After coming from weather in the single digits and an
inversion in the valley, I arrived in Anaheim, and immediately began to enjoy
the gorgeous 70° sunny weather, with slight breeze and went to wait for my
friend to pick me up.
We got checked in to our hotel and I went to dinner and met
my friend, Lupe, who came in to watch the event and cheer me on. As we sat having dinner, fireworks
started going off. As we turned to look, we discovered that we could see the
Disney Land Fireworks from the hotel restaurant. Nice!
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| Disney Land Fireworks from my hotel restaurant |
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| Friend who came to visit and watch the event. |
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