The Details: Getting There

I've mentioned we have a few stories to tell so I thought I'd try to share those today. To make it a little easier for anyone reading the blog in the future, I think the best thing will be to break it up into locations. That will keep this from being one novel-length entry and break it into smaller chunks.

If you didn't catch what Operation V is all about, you have to go back to the beginning and read the first post. That will give you the what and why. To get from Southwest Michigan to California, we had to get a flight. We found $103 flights on Orbitz ($130 with taxes) on US Air. First we flew from Detroit to Phoenix, then on to Ontario. Vivian's husband Vinnie drove us to the airport. We made great time and after we bought our luggage tickets ($25 per bag on US Air), we breezed through security. I wasn't sure how tight it would be since the bomb attempt last month but for our domestic flight it wasn't crowded at all. After consulting Gate Guru (love that app!), we grabbed a snack and a drink at Ruby Tuesday while we waited for our flight.

The flight itself went fantastic. Viv doesn't really love to fly so I thought I'd distract her. However we pulled away from the gate practically onto the runway. Takeoff was almost instantaneous. It was kind of like ripping off a bandaid... it might have stung a little but she didn't really have time to be anxious. I could tell that my attempt to distract her wasn't working anyway. "Are we really taking off right now? We didn't even taxi? Seriously, we're taking off? Are we in the air?" Yep, it was that quick.

US Air gives you a soda. If you think you're going to get a bag of pretzles or peanuts, you are very mistaken. When Viv asked the steward if there were any snacks provided he practically laughed at her. Then something about they are in the red and have been in the red all year.... TMI!!! Was there enough friggin' money to fuel this plane? Good gosh, man- SHUT UP. Alrighty then.

Landed in Phoenix and our flight to Ontario appeared to be leaving out of the same gate we just landed at, but there was going to be a 40 minute delay. After a quick text to Victor, our ride in Ontario, we went to the Tequileria for a snack and a drink. We were almost done when I glanced over and saw that there was no one, not a single person sitting over at our gate. Now, that seemed a little odd so Viv jumped up to check the departure screens. Flight changed gates, now on time, pay and dash to the end of the concourse where we had to hurry up and wait.

When they ask you to hurry, why do they load the plane from the front?

Finally got on board, buckled in, ordered to turn off electronics then they decided we needed to fuel the plane to get to Ontario. Sure, sounds like a plan. Finally it was time to pull away from the gate and then -stop- a pin broke on the tow vehicle. Nothing major, just a little more waiting. During that time, Vivian found out that the guy sitting next to her was not exactly thrilled with flying, either. So when it came time to lift off she counseled him through it like an old pro. Now we know what Viv needs: someone who has a harder time with take-offs and landings than she does.

We landed in Ontario and then I think it hit us all. We were in California. There were palm trees. We were really doing this!