I just returned from a trip to my parents' home in Texas. Had to fly down quickly because my father had a heart attack. He was in the hospital all the time I was there, but as soon as I got home, he came home. I guess the Medicare rules say that if you still have a pulse after ten days, you go home. It is shameful that they would release him in such lousy shape. I felt he needed a day or two more. But, I'm on the wrong side of the doctor's desk to know for sure, I guess.
I flew down on AirTran. I swore in 2001 that I'd never fly AirTran again, after the mess they called an airline I experienced then. Flight attendants yelling at passengers--not because they were unruly, just things like they tried to put their luggage in a place the flight attendant thought was incorrect, or another tried to hold her coat in her lap, and other ridiculous things. They also taxied around on the tarmac for so long I missed my connection, which was also AirTran. They assured me, however, that they gave my seat to a worthy person--one who had missed his connecting flight for the same reason. They managed to get me on a flight about 15 minutes before they'd have had to buy me a meal, too. Yep, they were pros.
They have apparently tried to remake themselves, and from what I experienced, they did a good job. Everyone I encountered was nice. I think I'll fly them again, if I have a lot of extra time. You must stop at Atlanta, where the food is awful and expensive. It can take a long time.
I checked in on my return flight from Dallas. I mistakenly okayed it without checking to see what seats I'd get. I also got both boarding passes at once. I got on the first flight and landed in Atlanta. I had two hours before my flight would leave from gate D9. Great! I was at D6 anyway. I walked the concourse and ate a rather expensive Junior Whopper between D10 and D12. Then, I walked back to wait at D9. Sat down. The flight to Fort Myer left and I expected to see my fellow Washingtonians fill the area. About 45 minutes before my flight would leave, I was still alone. I checked my boarding pass again. There it was, gate---OH NO! Gate C9! I had some real estate to cover. I knew the cross-over concourse was around gate D17 or so, and made my way as fast as I could. I turned left toward concourses A, B and C. Thank goodness it was only Gate C! I had to go down an escalator. It was pretty long and steep, you know, a little like the Metro escalators. I got on and decided I'd better check my boarding pass again. I grabbed it from my pocket and---OH NO! Bump, bump, bump, bump. My rolling suitcase refuses to stand up straight and had just fallen over and began its metronomic journey down the escalator steps. There were about 20 steps between me and the nice man standing in front of me. Good, because it gave me time to act, but bad because the suitcase seemed to be gaining speed. There were about 10 people standing on the escalator in front of me and it looked like I was going to make a strike on my first escalator bowling attempt. Finally, when the suitcase was about five steps from him, the man turned around and saw the impending danger. He gracefully stopped my suitcase and held it for me to catch up to him. "I'm so sorry! It just got away from me! I'm so glad it didn't hit you! Thank you!" Of course, it probably came out, "I just got away! I'm so glad I'm sorry!" because I was so rattled! Whew!
So, I picked up speed and headed right for the moving sidewalk. This poor man was on the sidewalk in front of me and seemed to be trying to stay ahead of me. I was half-laughing, half-terrified that I wouldn't make it to the gate on time. I would have slowed if I hadn't been afraid I'd miss my flight. Poor guy!
I made the flight. Hooray! My dear husband whisked me off to dinner. Hooray! My dog nearly turned himself inside out greeting me. Hooray!
I'm glad to be home, but would appreciate all prayers for my parents and for those who are caring for them right now.
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