I am forever grateful for safe and comfortable travel. Looking back now that time has passed and I have rested and recovered, Elyse and I enjoyed safe and comfortable travel getting home to PHX....eventually.
We were grateful for safe and comfortable travel in my mom's car when we drove it to Bismarck to catch our departing flights. Beth flew to Vegas on Allegiant and Elyse and I were flying through MPLS to PHX on Delta. I dropped Beth off for her 1 p.m. flight and checked my bag for my 3:00 flight....and learned that my flight would be departing at 4:30. The very nice Delta ticket agent and I agreed that no matter how fast a walker I am, I may possibly be able to make my 5:30 connection in MPLS, but my luggage would not. He booked us on the 10 p.m. flight to PHX. Elyse and I had a quick talk and thought, "Cool! We'll take the train and go to the Mall of America!" An adventure was planned. We left the airport and hung out at Alison's for a bit. Incidentally: Beth arrived in Vegas before I had even left Bismarck.
Alison and Dennis dropped us at the airport for our 4:30 flight. And we learned that we were delayed until 5:30. Good thing we were already booked on that later flight! I can't remember what time it was, but after enjoying safe and comfortable travel, we finally landed in MPLS and we went to the Mall of America. Elyse thought it was fun to ride the train.
We walked into the amusement park section and a very nice lady approached us saying, "This ticket has 100 points. They're only good today. Use them! Have fun!" I made Elyse take me on the carousel - the one ride I knew would not make me want to throw up! With respect to my mother's fondness for chickens, I chose to ride the rooster.
Elyse really enjoyed riding the swings and convinced me to ride with her. I am not a fan of heights so I followed Elyse's advice, "Just close your eyes, Mom!" so I did. It didn't make the ride feel any more 'safe and comfortable' or fun. We ended up giving our remaining 70 points to another family when we left the mall. Elyse and I agreed that she would have ridden more rides if she'd had a better companion - like Carolyn.
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| Take note of the girls behind us that are photo bombing our picture. |
We left the MOA and after a little bit of panic trying to find a security gate open at 9 p.m., we got to our gate for our 10:00 departure....which now said 11:40 departure. Who knew that while we were at MOA there had been a storm going through the Cities that delayed our airplane's arrival?! I saw that delay on the board and I lost it - we would arrive in PHX at 12:30...which was really 2:30 a.m. to our bodies. All I could do at that point in my exhaustion and grief was put my head in my hands and cry. Elyse was a trooper and a wonderful travel companion. She put her hand on my back and asked, "Mom? Are you OK?" I said, "I am just so tired and I just want to go home." She said, "Me too, Mom; me too." Thank heavens for iPads and journals. We managed to entertain ourselves until our 11:40 departure. We were asleep before we left the ground and enjoyed safe and comfortable travel all the way to PHX. Yes, folks, it actually was the longest day of the year!
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