Well, we made it to Oregon. Through two 4.5 hr flight, with an and hour and a half delay. And in one piece no less! And all things considered, relatively smoothly.
From getting a late start all the way to arrival, though, I got little jolts of uncertainty as to whether the universe was working against us.
As I say, late start. I didn't mention: the original leave time was 5:30am. We had to drop something off for the Wife's work on the way, so the plan was to leave 15 minutes early, but instead we got out of the house a half hour late. Which, with traffic, got us to the Park'n'Ride an hour late. This in itself wasn't so, so bad, but when we arrived at the Park'n'Ride, reservation in hand, the office was locked up with no-one in sight! *Enter 1st moment of panic here.* No note, just an empty dark office. I'd gotten a confirmation email and also called to confirm, but since we were late the thought that perhaps being an hour late meant we'd forfeited the reservation. I called, though, and apparently only one guy works at that hour and he was on an airport run. He was back shortly, and within 15 minutes we were trying to check in.
I say trying because when went up to the kiosk and scanned my driver's license, it came back that there were no reservations by anyone with my name. *Enter 2nd moment of panic.* Finally. it registers my name, and the Wife's, but makes no indication that we have a lap child. *2nd moment of panic continues.* The agent came over to add the Boy, check the bag, and finally we move on to, and thankfully through Security without a problem. And thankfully so, because as we arrived at the gate they were already boarding! I run to the water fountain and get a quarter bottle before they call for those traveling with infants. Run back, whip the Boy out of his car seat, take wheels off Go Go Babyz, shove whole thing in car seat bag and haul self, car seat, two large carry-ons, and diaper bag down the ramp while the Wife corrals the Boy. But hey, we made it. And even survived the flight by running up and down the aisles at every possible moment the 'fasten seat belt' sign wasn't illuminated. The people looked slightly annoyed as the Boy bumped, grabbed or attempted communication a 5th, 12th, and 32nd time but I just looked at them, smiled and said nothing. If you want me to have him sit, then you'll listen to his screaming, so suck it up and smile at the kid, won't ya!
With only a 40 minute layover I wanted to know before we got off the plane how far away the connection was, so I called to find out any updated gate information. Gave the man my information and, guess what, again with the, "we can't find you" business. This was not so much of a moment of panic as of annoyance. Grrr. Finally, after giving him my phone number, confirmation number, and ticket number, he was able to find me. At each step I was ready to say forget it, but he kept insisting. So, gate info confirmed, off the plane, car seat gathered and Go Go Babyz assembled for a LONG haul through the Houston airport and to the very last gate of a second terminal. We got everything ready to board again and let the Boy run about. People were completely queued up but wanting to let him run and besides, wouldn't we be boarded after First Class as a family? Yeah, no, apparently that is no longer standard. So we were the last to board the completely packed plane. An irritation, but no more so than sitting on the tarmac for an hour and a half while waiting to take off.
After the long wait, we finally start taxiing, the engine gets louder, and what looks like smoke starts pouring into the cabin. *Um, enter 3rd moment of panic - or you could say outright alarm.* Only a couple other passengers seemed to be alarmed. I decided not to let the Wife know of my concern. She is terrified in general of flying and, "falling from the sky in a fiery ball of flame." Besides, there was no smoke smell. I watched and studied the stuff - it was coming in just above the windows and seemed to dissipate before it got fully in with the people. I came to the conclusion that it was the air conditioning - it had gotten rather warm in the cabin, and was now cooling off, and it was also quite hot outside. I was still a bit weirded out by it, but not as concerned. And it was a bit funny to see the Wife notice, become alarmed, and apparently come to a similar conclusion about the stuff all in the space of a minute or so.
A very long flight later, we exit the plane to *not* find our car seat waiting. While very irritated that we specifically gate-checked the thing so that it would be handled better and so that we could have a mode of transport through the airport, we learned that it had been checked to baggage claim. So much for moving the Boy through the airport with ease.
Off to get the rental car. My reservation said to go to the board find your name with the parking space, pick up the car, and get the paperwork printed out as you leave the garage. But guess what. Name's not on the board. *Sigh - too tired to even register any moments of panic, but irritation was again growing.* So instead of the promised easy rental, we waited in line. But we got it. And while there was still traffic on our way to our destination, the Trip Tix provided by AAA proved to be very useful, and perhaps the exhausted final drive was the most relaxing part of the day.
So we have arrived. Family has set us up in a cute little in-law apartment that has been fully stocked for the needs of the Boy. We were fed a delightful meal on arrival and fell into what must be about the most comfortable bed on Earth. The boy is still on East Coast time, so my sleep wasn't for long - G'mornin' Moms, I know it's only 3am, but it's time for me to get up, don't understand why it's so dark, but get up, get up, get up! So I've been up since then. I look forward to a good long nap later today.
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