Hello. Long time no post. On Friday we traveled to Kalamazoo College for a campus tour and the weekend was spent preparing for my parents arrival. All went well with their flight. Although my sister, Maria, was a little nervous when she arrived at their gate and saw an ambulance and medical personnel on the tarmac. Someone on the flight had fallen ill, and after discreetly trying to pry information from the gate agents, she discovered it wasn't my mom.
My parents arrived at the Fort Myers airport nice and EARLY for their flight. So early, in fact, the Northwest ticket counter wouldn't even be opening for another half hour after their arrival. When I booked their flight just a few weeks ago, the seating was limited and the only seats available were in the absolute last row--window and center. There were some handicap seats available, and I thought if I embellished her "condition" a bit I could move them up there. The words "in her eighties" and "heart condition" were mentioned but unfortunately you had to be wheel chair bound and the wheel chair had to travel on the plane with you. So, handicap seating was out. I could just see my mom being wheeled up to the gate and sprightly hopping out of the chair skipping to her seat. Hardly the look of someone who was "handicapped." The day before their flight, some seats did open up and I was able to move them up considerably into a middle and aisle seat.
No issues at security. All liquid bottles in baggies passed with flying colors. She was a little miffed, however, that they didn't even bother to check any of her prescription medications which she took time to remove from her daily pill organizer and put back into their original bottles. I myself am pretty surprised they didn't check out her traveling pharmacy. Apparently, committing any terrorist acts via blood pressure and heart medications along with multiple vitamin supplements is not high on the alert scale. I heard there were two Filipinos on the plane but I have refrained from asking her if she knew them.
As I mentioned, Maria met their flight at the gate. We all know, you don't just get to stroll down to the gate anymore due to security risks, you need permission. She had to ask for a special pass. When she arrived at the ticket counter she, too, tried to make my mom and dad sound like they were decrepit and on their deathbeds in order to get around the rules. She explained that my mom was in her eighties, had a heart condition, and was flying home specifically for a medical procedure. She mentioned that my dad had suffered a stroke (so what that it was almost 30 years ago and he's fully recovered) and they relented. She was given a pass that officially described her reason for being at the gate as "to escort the elderly."
As they coasted on the moving sidewalks throughout the terminal, my sister and dad were so engrossed in catching up they didn't even notice my mom was quite a distance ahead of them merrily power walking along. So much for being handicapped and elderly.
Tomorrow is her procedure, and if all goes well, they will be heading home on Friday. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for me.
On another note, I was just thinking that it hasn't even been a week since President Bush left office. It's almost like he never existed (except for the little mess he's left behind). It seems as if he's already faded into the woodwork. I suppose he's enjoying some privacy after eight years in office. Which by the way reminds me of a funny story that Ed told me on inauguration day. As he and Cameron watched the former president and his wife board the helicopter and leave the grounds, Cameron said "what do you think it feels like after eight years to suddenly not have a job?" To which Ed replied "I don't know Cameron, I can only tell you what it feels like after 20 years."
Anyway, for a good laugh out loud moment for the day, be sure to click on the link below. Oh, George we will miss you (or at least we'll miss your speeches).
http://www.funnieststuff.net/viewmovie.php?id=1083
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