You know that term "be careful what you wish for?" ... dangling participle aside, adventurers would be wise to adhere to this snippet of wisdom!
The Girls on Speed have been wishing for an exciting Wild West Adventure for several weeks now ... and ~BAM~ we're outta the gate with nothin' but excitement from the start!
For those who might not be up-to-"Speed", the "Girls" have left the comforts of home for a 9-day excursion out West which is supposed to allow us to explore the wonders of at least 5 western states. Our adventure began yesterday when we departed Derby City for Phoenix. The plan was to have a leisurely flight through Denver, land in Phoenix in their early evening. Casually pick up the rental car & crash in preparation for the start of the road trip to VEGAS Saturday.
Our travel plans were "slightly" altered by a massive storm front that decided to take up residence in the Mile-High City triggering over 2 dozen tornado warnings & bringing air travel to a screeeeeeetching halt. Too dangerous for our Frontier jet to attempt a landing at DIA ... so the Girls on Speed were granted one of their first wishes .... "we hope we can spend a little more time seeing Colorado"... Cha-ching - wish granted - flight diverted to Pueblo, Colorado & a flat little airstrip that would be our resting place for the next 3 hours. Not precisely what we had in mind, but technically "wish granted"!! We were a little restless and a lot grateful for the talented Frontier crew who kept us safe & entertained for what must've felt like an eternity to them (we had "technology" in the form of activated flight TVs, iPods/Touches). We arrived in Denver at 10:00 (mountain time) & were grateful (again) that our connecting flight to Phoenix was also grossly delayed. Our "wish" that our butts-n-bags would have a place on the flight was promptly granted. Boarding began at 10:20 - so we cheerfully (truly - we were cheerful!!) dashed to the gate (which was moved twice) - looking like two contestants on "The Amazing Race'... no time to grab dinner, but grateful for the pistachios, almonds (and, eeeeek) Goldfish that we brought along for the ride.
Good thing we dashed to the plane or we sincerely would have missed ....
.... the fun of 3 more hours camped out on the tarmac waiting for the flight plans to be reorganized for several dozen planes that befell the same plight.
We arrived .... safely .... in Phoenix at 2:00 am (west coast time) ... at which point we were treated to more adventures including ... lost bags (which were ultimately found), closed rental car desks (but a hotel with free shuttle service even at that hour), ooops - the wrong hotel (but the aforementioned free shuttle service driver who was happy to take us to the right hotel), and a room key that refused to cooperate (perhaps it was pilot error, just sayin').
Along the way, we observed and gave thanks for:
- an amazingly cheerful & flexible 10-year-old! Kate (who, of late, has been exhibiting some "pre-teen 'tudes" that remind her mom - well, of her at that age) was absolutely delightful, funny, helpful & positively reflective about the whole situation. She went & fetched earphones for our cranky seat-mate, helped me help a woman with newborn baby (who couldn't speak english) find someone to locate her lost baggage, smiled, laughed & cracked jokes all the while. It was a scary flight experience & she was amazingly calm.
- screens of all sizes ... OK, you know I'm gestapo when it comes to monitoring screen time, but Lordy, where would we be without the lil bitty satellite Direct TV that came FREE with our multiple delays (HGTV, Food Network and - gulp - Disney Channel for the precious one).
- OK, you heard it here, I was grateful for my iPhone!! I still miss the Crackberry - but the iPhone did allow me to keep the Facebook community apprised of our whereabouts, text kids & whip Kristin's butt at "Words" while waiting out the storm
- the absolutely BEAUTIFUL people who helped make this experience so remarkable ... the exhausted gate/flight attendants who kept the angry mobs placated & pointed in the right direction, the random security guard who helped us find a not-so-helpful baggage clerk at the Phoenix airport, the hotel shuttle driver (OMG - like a guardian angel ) & the front-desk clerk (at the wrong hotel).
What I will say is that every person who went out of his/her way to help others ... every one ... came from a country other than the US - OR - was 10-years old (hee hee). They held jobs & filled posts that I wouldn't have taken & were ooozing with gratitude and the desire to assist. I will also say that the people who were bitching, screaming & coppin' a major 'tude ... were Americans. A fact that didn't escape the 10-year-old. I was embarassed AND grateful that she witnessed this!
Day Two begins NOW! We're back to the airport to gather the rental car that will serve as our trusty steed for the remainder of our adventure. If it's Saturday, then it's "Destination Vegas" ... Beatles "LOVE" is tonight & a hike in Red Rock Canyon is on deck for tomorrow.
Love to everyone who has been praying for our safe & fun-filled journey! We're carrying each of you in our hearts as the adventure unfolds!
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