Life as a Neal

Ok, so no one liked my pirate joke... no one ever thinks my pirate jokes are funny. Boo.

Well - after very adventure-filled flights ... yes, flightS, Jack and I are back home. As a result from this weekend, unless it's traveling via car, we probably won't be making any trips anytime soon.

Our flight to Minneapolis consisted of Jack screaming all the way to Atlanta (passing out once we started taxi-ing to the jetway.) My favorite part was when he flung spit all over the slacks of the guy next to us. Awesome.

Once arriving in Atlanta, we were super late, so I had to sprint from Terminal A to E. Anyone who has ever been to the E Terminal knows it's a bitch. Well, they all are.

We made it though - they were closing the door and saw Jack - and me, digging for my inhaler. Pitiful. But hey, I'll take the pitty as long as I can get on my flight. Jack then slept through the sprint, the yanking in and out of strollers and the second flight. I love him.

(Insert time in Minnesota with family & friends ... which I'll get to in later posts)

Now for the trip back to Georgia.

This flight, too, was delayed. We had no plane. So in time, they pulled one out of the hanger, cleaned it, loaded our bags, loaded us like cattle ... and then we sat. (I would like to mention that the gate agent made this actually amusing - nice work with the great attitude and jokes.) And we sat, and sat ... and sat some more. Jack was restless. We all were. The captain tells us there was actually a mechanical issue on the plane (listen here, loved ones ... when you hear that - GET OFF OF THE PLANE, or you may experience what happens next). The mechanics fix whatever the issue is and we're off. Once in the air, the captain come on the speaker again and says there has been complaints of a burning smell - but it was normal, per the mechanics - the smell would flush out after about 5 minutes - which it did.

So, we went on with our snacks. Jack was amusing everyone playing peekaboo and jumping on my lap (ouch). All of a sudden a flight attendant went barreling up the aisle to the front of the plane. Guess what - she had EVERYONE'S attention. She fiddles with something on the floor and comes running past towards the back of the plane ... with a fire extinguisher.

Repeat: Fire extinguisher. If you ever want to feel helpless and claustrophobic, imagine yourself thousands of feet in the air and helpless. Especially when the Captain takes 5 minutes to say anything. "So, looks like the mechanic's fix wasn't good enough. There is no fire, everything seems to be working normal. However, we are making an emergency landing in Louisville, Kentucky. Hang on, stay calm - we're just taking every precaution to keep us ALL safe."

The front of the plane starts tilting forward and we make a speedy return to ground. I mean, speedy. Uneasily speedy. The emergency lights came on, I was waiting for the airbags to fall - I saw a couple people reading the instructions for emergency landings. Me? I just gripped onto my sleeping baby and clenched my eyes. Once we landed, we were greeted by fire trucks. Fire trucks and firemen. We exited the plane from the front and the rear, leaving many items behind - which were later rescued by Delta employees and returned to their owners.

We were all escorted down to another terminal to wait. I would like to mention, too, that the Delta employees, especially the Flight Attendants (that were working their shifts and the ones that were passengers) all deserve a round of applause. They all (7 total, I think, dressed in civilian clothes and Delta uniforms) were quick thinking, quick acting and made us all feel safe - well, as safe as one could feel. We were put onto a new plane, same seats, same neighbors and headed onto Atlanta. Jack even kept everyone entertained by dancing in the walkway while we waited for them to load our bags.

One more minor bump, though - a thunderstorm made it's way into Louisville while we were waiting. So, we flew right through it. Lightening all around and the worst turbulence I have every felt. The man in the middle seat had to hold my hand and the girl's opposite because we both started to cry. I was physically scared. Scared enough to cry. We landed in Atlanta well after midnight. A man on the train next to me said he got a kick out of Jack in Minneapolis (note, picture at start of post) and that he was seriously frightened on the plane from Louisville. I made a mental note: it was okay that I cried, then.

Delta put us up in an airport hotel and Jack and I made our way back to Savannah in the morning. He took a nice dump after the boarding doors shut. So that was awesome. Pretty much summed up our flying experience. I think he was over it.

But - we're alive and we're home. So that's all that matters. (and to my surprise, so did my luggage)

Not to mention, the numerous compliments I received about my stellar little boy. "What a good boy, what a trouper, he's so cute, he's done so well with all of this..."