Saturday, June 16, 2018
If you've read any of my past trip journals you know I'm not a big fan of air travel. With that said, the situation has gotten easier over the years. As an employee
of the United States Air Force I could type in my special nifty number while
booking my flight and qualify for TSA pre-check. This pre-check qualification has followed me even after my retirement from the government. So while others were doing the carry-on and body scans I got
to go through a vacant special lane which didn't require the removal of my shoes,
belt, jacket or laptop. This was indeed a bonus!
Although muscular dystrophy has made walking difficult and required my use of a cane this did qualify me for early boarding of the aircraft (i.e. a staff call for passengers who need extra time to board). Oh my gosh! This gave Terry plenty of time and room to hoist both of our carry-on roller bags into the overhead storage bins while I got settled. What a difference this made to a passenger dealing with lack of mobility, fatigue and pain.
As is typical airline protocol we took the puddle jumper to the main hub to catch a bigger plane. I had prepared for the flight by placing episodes of Railroad Alaska on my iPhone. They were a joy to watch and also set the stage our trip.
At our connecting airport we did not have a jet bridge, but instead exited the aircraft via mobile staircase with a walk across the apron to the building. To most passengers this was a piece of cake, but I found it extremely dangerous pulling a roller bag down the staircase with one hand and using my cane for balance with the other. Once I entered the building I informed an attendant I had reserved wheelchair service to reach my connecting flight. This was my first time at requesting special services from an airline and it didn't go well. A number of people had requested wheelchairs and there weren't enough attendants and chairs to go around. I informed them of my departure time and emphasized the importance of making my connecting flight. I sat for at least thirty minutes waiting.
When it was my turn a petite female attendant put me into a wheelchair, looked at my ticket and a look of panic came over her face. At the speed of a cheetah she zoomed me up the ramp and soon were weaving me in and out of passengers in the main terminal. Terry took off her flip flops and ran barefoot beside us. The attendant roared something into her walkie talkie and we eventually met up with an electric cart. We zoomed off in the cart before I could even give the breathless attendant a well-deserved tip. Petal to the metal! The cart barrelled it's way through the airport. I was certain some unsuspecting traveler would get bumped off their feet by the speeding electric cart, but a blaring horn and last minute contortions saved many. It was quite a long journey to our gate and I realized I never could have walked the distance much less in the time required. Terry and I both exclaimed, "Praise the Lord!" when the cart pulled up to our gate just as the call was made for passengers who needed extra time.
Terry is a social creature and couldn't resist striking up a conversation with the lady in the seat next to her. Call me a traditionalist, but I was intrigued with a woman dressed in a sleeveless hoodie with a large Army star on the hood, tattooed arms and a camouflaged neck pillow. I could not resist getting a photo. The woman was from Anchorage and spoke with authority about Alaska topics, but when probed about more intricate details regarding the state she drew information from little or no real facts. If you can't make it, fake it. I turned my attention to the in-flight movie, "The Post", but even Spielberg's directing and Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks acting couldn't hold my attention. I'll have to try the movie again when I can watch it in a place where I can easily hear the dialogue.
A very sweet and friendly grandmother type of woman met me with a wheelchair as I exited the flight in Anchorage. Given our ages it should have been me pushing her in the wheelchair!
At the baggage claim area we met Jim Somerville. Saint Jim would be giving us a ride to our hotel and then in the morning picking us up for breakfast and car loan. It was great to see Jim again. We sat and talked as Terry claimed our bags from the carousel. We both spotted a young man on prosthetic "blade runner" legs and admired his inspirational spirit.
Jim drove us to the Comfort Suites located next to the Anchorage train yard. We arrived at midnight which was 4:00 AM our time so there wasn't any energy left for train chasing. Ah, tomorrow is another day.