Cry Baby

You know, today has been one of those days.

It’s Monday so I was flying back to Topeka Kansas. I know Monday morning lines at the airport are jam packed with people, so I asked Ron if we could leave a little earlier than we did last week. I wanted to make sure I had enough time.

We left the house as I requested at 6:15 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. flight. Good thing I gave myself that extra 15 minutes as the road we take into the airport from the highway was closed due to construction. The detour took us way around and the traffic was thick with other travelers wondering what the heck happened to their commute.

When traveling for work, I carry my laptop onto the plane and check one bag of luggage. So it doesn’t matter if I check in on line or at the airport, since I’m checking a bag, I have to get in some line. Here is where I actually had a bright spot to my day. Ron drops me off right at the door to ticketing counter for Continental (what a great guy he is!). I looked in the door and there had to be 200 people in the zig zag line to get to the ticketing counter at Continental. That drives me crazy being in the middle of that! I see the curbside skycaps only have a few customers, so I decide to wait outside. Immediately, one of the skycaps calls me over.

In 30 seconds, he gives me my boarding pass and takes my luggage. People! Use the curbside skycaps! They are awesome! They saved me at least ½ hour waiting in that long ass line inside. They did in 30 seconds what 10 agents working the counters inside can’t do in ½ hour. Tip a couple of bucks and thank the heavens you’re done with this part. From here, it’s right on to the security line.

That part wasn’t so bad. It took me maybe 20 minutes to get through there, then the long walk to the “D” concourse for my flight. I was in plenty of time to make sure I had time to pee before my flight and even time to sit calmly and try to relax before my flight. All was going according to plan when suddenly . . . . a DOG in the concourse . . . walking to MY gate. Oh heavens, the woman with the dog was talking to the gate agent right by the gate MY flight was leaving from. This can’t be.

The dog looks to me like it’s a mutt of some sort, black and white and hairy, standing about knee high. The woman with the dog finishes talking to the gate agent and continues on to the ladies room. What do I do? I call Ron! I am half frantic about the dog being on my flight. He tries to calm me, but it wasn’t working too well. I saw no dog carrier or crate anywhere around. I had a feeling this dog was going to be loose in the plane.

I hang up with Ron and walk over to the gate agent. I ask about the dog and if it’s planning on being on my flight. She said yes, the dog was an aide dog, a hearing dog to be exact, and it would be traveling on my flight. I guess the look on my face made her question first if I was ok. I answered with a confident “not really” before the flood gate of tears started. She also tried to calm me and asked if I was worried because I was allergic. I replied no, I was just terrified. I believe that Continental has the best staff out there working for them, as I’ve written about them before, and this lady was no exception. She made sure that my seat and the dog’s seat weren’t close to each other. (I was in the back of the plane and the dog was in the front. Hmm.) She said she would make sure I got on the plane before the dog so that I wouldn’t have to walk by it. I agreed that would probably work. If I don’t have to see it, I should be ok.

They were getting ready to board the plane and I was allowed to be the FIRST person on the plane! Go me! Even before the Elite Travelers. Yes, being a cry baby does have its perks. I have been bumped up to the status of “persons requiring extra assistance down the jet way”. Yes, that’s me.

So I’m on the plane, strapped in, and now just have crashing to worry about. I don’t see the dog get on, and I don’t see the dog on the plane. I was going to be ok.

My next excitement was after I picked up my car rental, it really is an easy drive normally here to Topeka. It’s just over an hour’s drive, but almost a straight shot. I thought even I couldn’t get lost. Um, once again, I was wrong. I missed a turn. I was lost. Go figure. So, my drive ended up taking just over two hours instead of one. I guess it could have been worse. I did find my way back so all is well.

You’d think that would be the end of it, wouldn’t you? HA! I have one more. I finally find my way and pull into the parking lot. My thoughts are on making sure I grab my wallet out of the front seat and then go to the trunk to get my laptop bag. Hey! Something is wrong! I can’t get the key out of the ignition. Heck, I can’t make the key turn all the way to the “locked” position.

I remember having cars that had secret buttons you had to push in order to get the keys out. I thought maybe this was one of those. I tried pushing and pulling and twisting everything I could see. I did figure out that I can make the steering wheel go up and down but I still can’t get the key out of the ignition. Crap. I wasted 10 minutes out there before I finally just called Enterprise. I told them who I was and that I had just rented a car there this morning. I even told them the car I had was a Mazda 3. Then I dropped the bombshell that I was too much of an idiot to get the key out of the ignition. His response? “Ma’am, is the car is park?” He makes it sound so easy. Of COURSE the car is . . . . not . . . . in park. Dammit. My only excuse I could offer him is that I drive a standard so there IS no park on them. He said “that’s ok, ma’am. It happens all the time.”

Waa!

I am afraid. When I get out of work, I am not going to go out to dinner or go shopping or anything else. I think it is right to the hotel for me and have something delivered for dinner. I think I’ll be much safer that way.