I just had to get this down for posterity. I cannot believe it even happened, so I will certainly never believe I remembered it correctly. The strangest part is that I barely got upset. I only got about 3 hours of sleep the night before, and probably did not have enough energy to get upset. So I just pretty much went with the flow. I'd like to live the rest of my life like that. If it got me through a day like yesterday, my normal days will all be almost a cakewalk.
Here's how it went.
My phone started beeping at 6:20 a.m. to tell me its battery was dying. Although I'd set the alarm for 6:30, I went ahead and shut off the phone, because I knew I had a wake up call coming in at that time...except it didn't come in. My mother finally asked what time it was, and a look at the clock showed 6:45. I called the front desk to tell them I hadn't gotten a call, but I only pointed out that I had a plane to catch and their lapse could have had really bad consequences.
Went down to lobby to get luggage cart because, unusually for us, we had quite a lot of bags. I did have a thought that the time was probably right for a lot of people checking out to catch planes - we were directly across from the airport - and there might not be a cart to be had. And I was right. So, right back up to get my mother in her wheelchair along with a couple of our carry on bags and her walker. Then two more trips for the rest of the bags.
Get to the airport about 2 hours early so we'd have time to get breakfast, and find out the plane was delayed for 3 hours, which later turned into 4 hours. Already exhausted by this time, suggest we go back to hotel room until checkout because we hadn't actually checked out, but my mom didn't want to face the shuttle bus again. It's hard for her to get up and down the steps with one bum leg. Sit in airport for 6 hours.
Finally land at first stop. Landed at C gate, NOLA gate agent had written down gate of next flight, also C gate. Stewardess on first flight announces that next flight to Reno is leaving from a B gate. Right before we deplane, I confirm this with her. I try to double check on a flight monitor in the airport, but the flight isn't posted. Then I push my mother literally across the Las Vegas airport...only to find that the flight was leaving from a C gate after all. Pushed my mother *back* across the Las Vegas airport.
Realized I left my prescription reading glasses on the plane. Go to original gate and ask about them. Gate agent comes back with two pairs of reading glasses...neither of them are mine. Will need to get new ones.
Finally get to Reno airport. Park mom by front door with walker and carry on bags, go to get luggage. Small scare when bags aren't on luggage carousel, but happy when customer service agent finds them lined up near office. Pile them on a cart, swing by for the rest by my mother's wheelchair and take it to car. Put all in trunk, jump in to drive back and get Mom...and...car won't start. Dead battery. Call sister to update with latest disaster, she says there's a guy she's seen running around the airport parking garage who will jump batteries. Find a customer service phone in airport, arrange for jump, then wheel Mom out to car. Guy comes and jumps battery, car starts and I drive us to hotel to meet sister.
Yes, the day could have gone worse. One of the planes could've crashed, for one thing. Bags could've gotten lost. Probably any number of things that I can't even conceive of right now. Still, I am amazed at how challenging yesterday was. And I am completely bemused at my lack of temper.
I admit to having a mild feeling of irritation toward the first Southwest employee who assumed that a 30 minute layover in Las Vegas was doable for a person in a wheelchair. Our 2nd flight would have been boarding even as our 1st one was landing, and we had to wait for our wheelchair to be brought up from the luggage compartment.
I also had several uncharitable thoughts about the stewardess who misdirected us about the departure gate for our connecting flight. But, I kid you not, I resigned myself to the extra exercise in hope that it would help rid me of some unwanted weight.
We had the help of some truly amazing Southwest Airline employees, and were offered help a few times by complete strangers. Having traveled with my mother enough times now, I've pretty much got things pat, but it was a very uplifting experience to have people say, "Can I help you? Tell me how I can help." In fact, throughout that very long 18 hour day, we encountered more nice helpful people than I can ever remember meeting at one time. Maybe that's why it was so easy to remain calm, even in spite of the few who irritated me. Actually, even they were very nice, too. Just misguided.
Stressing out would not have changed a single thing yesterday, except maybe making the day feel longer and more difficult than it already was. Certainly wouldn't have helped. The day was long, a little uncomfortable - mostly because I was so tired to begin with. But, except for the loss of my reading glasses, the only consequence involved was time.
We ran a little behind, then found out we were actually way ahead of time and did an awful lot of waiting around. But we weren't late for anything in particular. We got to the hotel, had dinner and went to bed. We probably would have done almost the exact same thing even without all the delays. I maybe would have had a much shorter fuse if we'd had anything scheduled. Or maybe I'd just have changed our plans.
But I can tell you that, during one of the absolutely most challenging days of my life, choosing to stay calm made the day significantly more bearable. I was still very tired and a little uncomfortable, but I wasn't jumping out of my skin with anger, frustration and anxiety. It's crossed my mind that this is a very valuable lesson to remember right now.
I already knew, from personal experience, that unexpected difficulties often pop up during travel. And considering the kind of prolonged travel I'll be attempting to enjoy in the not too distant future, it's probably reasonable to assume that I'll be encountering even more of them than ever before. But now I know better how to deal with them: Take a deep breath, let go of all the disappointment/anger/frustration/anxiety and go with the flow.
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