Are you up for a short story?  You've got to hear about our trip home. 

Our Story: Hard Days Night

We didn't waste time sleeping on our last night in Paris as there would be plenty of time to rest on the plane. With our free spirits soaring, we readied ourselves for our departure. We sat in our hotel lobby, waiting for our private van to shuttle us directly to our destination. After about 1/2 hour past our pickup time, we got a call that the traffic was bad in Paris and the driver would be a little late. Time passed and we waited, not so patiently, as our departure time drew nearer. A couple of more calls confirmed that he was on his way. We were now calculating the distance to Orly Airport and how long it would take.

The transport finally arrived and we still weren't sure if we could make it so we jetted off, along with another couple who were going our way. The driver was congenial and pointed out all the sights, saying he knew how to get there the fastest way and was taking alternative routes to miss the traffic. We weaved in and out of little backstreets, winding through traffic, seeming to go in circles. We pressed on until he pulled up in front of a hotel trying pick up another fare. They were not even there and we were incredulous considering we saw no way to get to our destination on time. 

As we entered the terminal, we jumped out and bounded to our gates.

You've got hear the rest. Read on.

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Our Story: Hard Days Night

We were told that we had missed our flight and were booked on the next one available. Our plane was downgraded but we made the best of it and finally got to Chicago, grateful to have gotten back to the states. We had booked a hotel in San Francisco where we planned to spend a leisurely day and relax that night before going home and looked forward to our final destination.   

This plane arrived in Chicago later than our connecting flight so we missed that one also. This time, we were downgraded further. Instead of our 777 state of the art jet originally scheduled, with mini TV's on the back of every roomy seat, we faced a 747 that was not available to board and no ETA on how soon that would be. We sat at the gate as the hours rolled on. By this time, we had been up for so many hours that the sleep deprivation loomed and the urge to lie down was almost uncontrollable. 

Aaron made friends with a woman to whom he lamented his situation of being bumped from his window seat. After what seemed like an eternity, we boarded. The woman insisted Aaron take her first class seat. I, on the other hand, was ushered to the back middle section and squeezed into the smallest seat I had ever encountered. If I had been any larger than average, I couldn't have fit in my seat on this overly packed flight. The temperature was incredibly hot and there we sat, on the ground, as an hour passed. I was feeling faint going on my second day of no sleep and feeling pangs of claustrophobia. The second hour on the ground in the hot closed plane found me getting in a bit of a panic. 

I found the attendants and let them know that I would need to get off the plane. I could not continue. They would not let me off!!! The captain came out and took me into the cockpit as he ordered the air-conditioning reserves to be utilized. I sat there in the captain's seat with him and the co-pilot, while they explained the dynamics of flying and exchanged personal pleasantries for the next hour and a half. It could have been very exciting had I not wanted to sleep so badly. 

There is more. Read on.

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Our Story: Hard Days Night

We finally departed. No TV, just a tiny screen....far, far away, behind many heads taller than mine. My eyes were burning from fatigue so reading was impossible. I couldn't move as my seat was tight around me. The only thing that kept me going was the anticipation of dinner, famished as I was. "Hey, did I get my peanuts?" 

The cart slowly made its way down the isle. My Pavlovian reflex made me lick my lips for the treat that was on its way. I got my small piece of plastic that held some withered lettuce and ball of something unrecognizable. Of course, no vegetarian dishes were left so I knew it could be literally anything. I took a bite of the salad and it was HOT...not warm but HOT! It was not edible at all. The food cart controls were broken and the temperatures could not be controlled. I picked at the ball of something for sustenance and decided I had better go check on Aaron.

You've got hear the rest. Read on.

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Our Story: Hard Days Night

I made my way through the curtain to the first class area and somehow the air was different here. The temperature was cooler. The constant buzz of incessant conversation was replaced by relaxing enjoyment. I spotted Aaron wearing his cd headphones, feet stretched out in front, taking advantage of the the vast expanse of empty space that surrounded him. 

"Hi mom. What did you have for dinner? We had crab cakes. They were pretty good!" he joyfully expounded.

I went back to coach, and crawled over seats, since there was no room left to squeeze by the legs of the other passengers and get back to my slot in this sardine can.

We were informed that windshear would make the flight longer and the rain and fog in SF may delay our landing for awhile. I had to stretch my legs as they were going numb from the seat in front pressing on my knees and headed for an Aaron check. I found him wrapped in a blanket, totally stretched out as if on a bed, sound asleep with a contented smile on his face. 

After what seemed like an eternity, we landed and I struggled to find Aaron in the crowd. We retrieved our luggage and began dragging it around the airport to call for a shuttle, while hoping they would pick up this late. By then it was close to 1:00 am and we had lost our day and night at our hotel but thought we could at least get a few hours sleep before the drive home. 

Ok, you've read this far. You may as well finish....

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Our Story: Hard Days Night

We made contact and waited for our ride. And then we waited longer. I finally went in to call and they said they were on their way. We eventually spotted the shuttle and as they opened their doors, a group of people lunged in front of us and filled the van. We were told they would come back for us after they dropped off this group as there was no more room. You could hear the clang of my jaw hitting the sidewalk as it dropped. 

They later came back and after a journey from hell, we settled into our room, where we showered and I felt the joy of stretching out horizontally, instead of the pretzel position I had been trapped in for the last 20 hours. We enjoyed the comforts that we take for granted and remembered the joys of our wonderful adventure that couldn't be dampened by the long trip home. 

The morning brought a new day and we had a hearty breakfast and drove off. I asked Aaron where his cd player was and found that he had left it on the plane, since I wasn't with him as we exited to make sure he had everything. Not only did he lose it, he lost his entire cd collection. To my dismay, he also lost my entire collection (many that were very special gifts to me) that I didn't even know he had brought. I called United Airlines when we got home and made my report and was told that they would call me IF THEY FOUND THEM. Yeah right! Did I hear from them? NOT. 

Well, that turned out to be quite an expensive flight, everything considered. Would I trade the trip or have it any other way, considering these perils? NEVER. We experienced our adventure on our own, half-way 'round the world, with the freedom to explore and do whatever we felt like doing with no schedules to keep.  We learned so much, developed new interests, enriched our life experience and had fun together. What more could we ask for? It's all part of the adventure.......

THE END

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