Ok, so we waited and waited and waited and finally the flight was cancelled. Mechanical problems. I was finally able to get on a plane that left at 8:30. I called a neighbor and asked her to call Bobbi and let her know the change of schedule. However, I forgot to mention that we were being routed through Denver instead of Los Angeles, as originally scheduled.
We did get to Denver without problems, but another arose as we were to depart Denver. WE were all emplained and waiting and waiting and waiting (again). Finally an announcement from the cockpit. Yeah! Mechanical problems. SO we all had to get off of the plane and wait in the terminal until they could find another servicable plane and then emplane again. As I got on the second plane in Denver, I mentioned to the Captain that I thought two 'mechanical problems' in one seemed excessive. He replied that it was a matter of safety and they wanted passengers to be safe. Either he missed my point or chose to ignore it. Betchya every passenger was crossing fingers, praying, om'ing mantras (or whatever people do) that THIS plane would actually take off.
Whoo! We made it without further ado. Landed in Indianapolis about three hours later than scheduled.
I expected to meet Bobbi at the baggage pickup, but she and a friend were at the unloading site Good thing I had sent her a picture beforehand, otherwise we would have missed each other. I knew what she looked like but I wasn't watching for her at that place. As one of the porters was wheeling me in the wheelchair to the baggage pickup, I heard "Chaya?". Oh joy oh joy. Hugs and introductions. She had a friend drive from their "Tiny Town" to Indy because her van was in the shop and her little car is a Rough Rider and his car is an almost new Chrysler LeBaron. Nice!
(This friend later told me that he is closer to Bobbi and her husband than he is to his own family.)
Anyway........as we were packing my luggage in the trunk of Gerry's car, somehow Bobbi got her middle finger caught between the car trunk and the car body. "My finger, my finger! It's caught!" Oh boy! What a mess. Her finger was already turning color but it hadn';t started to hurt yet. BUt within a few minutes the shock wore off and PAIN!!
As we were driving back home, Bobbi said we just HAD to stop at the next convenience store and get some ice for her finger. It was REALLY hurting by this time. All three of us needed to stop anyway. Gerry needed a soda, I needed some food, and Bobbi needed ice for her finger. I had a Cinnabon at the Sacramento airport around 6:00 a.m., and there was only drink service from Sacramento to Denver. I told the attendant that I was HUNGRY! WHen she asked me what I'd like to drink. So she brought me a small bag of pretzels and said she had a couple of oreos in her case and would I like those, but I never did get the tomato juice I asked for.
I expected food service on the Indianapolis to Denver flight, and the attendant asked if I wanted breakfast. SO what would you expect for breakfast? What I got was a ham and cheese sandwich and a small carton of yogurt. Ham and cheese? Me? An observant Jew? I don't think so. Well, I ate the yogurt. Actually, when the reservation was made, the travel agent specified KOSHER VEGETERIAN. I'm so glad the message got passed on. Hmmmph!
When the lunch snack was served I was napping so I got passed up on that. Oy! Even when I was obviously awake, nobody stopped by to see if I wanted a drink or anything else. Oh, well. By that time the attendants were cleaning up, so I guess they didn't want to have to come back for another empty can of juice or wahtever. Anyway, when we stopped for Bobbi's ice, Gerry got a soda and I got a can of Pringles.
When we finally got home, we had something more substantial to eat but I was so tired by that time, I don't remember what it was (**editors note: it was veggie lasagna). After all, I had been up since 3:00 a.m. to get dressed, baggage loaded in the car and drive to the airport. But I certainly slept well that night.
Next: Part II (whenever I can find another computer that works or get mine fixed, whichever comes first)
Note: Hi everyone, this is Bobbi (aka monstergue). Chaya sent this entry to me to put in her diary due to her computer problems. She also sent me some pictures that she took while she was here so I will scan and upload some of those here in a little bit and get them posted.