We decided to take Allegiant Air to South Dakota. It came highly recommended from all the folk back there. Yes, the airport is over an hour away from our house, but what the hell - less time getting through parking, ticketing, and security, right?
After stopping for a bite at Subway first,
we get there, and all of the above is true. Look, the children are smiling.
Well, Trevor isn't, but that's because he's going through puberty.
And parking, ticketing, and security are a breeze! Note: Parking was a breeze for us because Jack dropped us at the curb, then he had to drive for 10 minutes and wait in 113 degree heat to get shuttled back to the airport. Oh...the father's sacrifice.
So we're sitting in this large room with a couple hundred chairs when a gal comes on the pa system and announces that the flight to Sioux Falls will be delayed 2 hours.
TWO.
HOURS.
As I look around this warehouse-like airport, things start flashing through my brain. The main image being I AM IN AN AIRPORT WITH 3 CHILDREN, 5 CARRY ON BAGS, AND NOT A COCKTAIL IN SIGHT.
Mesa Gateway Airport doesn't have a watering hole, restaurant, or lounge of any sort.
So upon hearing that we will be sitting in the building for 3 more hours (1 hour early arrival in case of emergency + 2 hour delay) I begin to experience the 5 Stages of Grief.
First is Denial - "No way! That can't be true! A two-hour delay? Who does Allegiant think they are? Southwest? This is a joke, someone is punking us!"
Then, Anger - "Are you f***ing kidding me? Where's the manager? I demand an explanation!"
Bargaining - "OK, if I sit her quietly and play a quick game of cards with my kids, you'll find a way to make this not be happening, right? Cool - OK, yes, thanks."
Depression - This is a given when there is no beer bottle or wine glass in my hand as I sit waiting for a plane at an airport.
And last, Acceptance - "OK, this is my lot in life, the hand I was dealt. Someone get me a Diet Coke from the vending machine and I'll just look forward to the Bud Light I will be drinking on the plane in 3.25 hours. I can do this."
About an hour into our wait, the same gal gets on the pa system and explains that the plane is fixed and we will be boarding shortly. Prepare to board the broken down newly fixed airplane!!!
While this doesn't inspire confidence in me that we will get to South Dakota before crash landing into a wheat field in Nebraska, I remember the Bud Light awaiting me and eagerly hop on the plane. And I don't want to forget this one detail: we loaded the plane through its ass. Yes, everyone seated in rows 25 - 36 had to go up these teeny, narrow stairs and enter the plane through the rear entry. Very. Strange. Indeed.
So we're finally airborne - yay! Children fighting, bickering, whining, is at a minimum - double yay!! I've got my Bud Light - triple yay!!!
Ariival in Sioux Falls is uneventful, rental car is loaded up and we head into the city to find a place to eat. We're thinking Pei Wei sounds good, when all of a sudden there is a flash of blue and white behind us. Are we getting pulled over?
Ummm....yes, we are.
It seems that Sioux Falls Finest doesn't want people driving through their town with no headlights. Which brings me to the question "What 2010 model car doesn't have an automatic head lamp feature?" Well, that would be the Honda Accord! In all fairness, the car probably DOES have that feature, and perhaps it just wasn't turned ON, regardless, nice Mr. Cop was cordial about it and sent us on our merry way. After laughing at us when we asked where the nearest Pei Wei might be located? No Pei Way's in S.D.
IHOP it is!!!! Funny thing is our family has never been to an IHOP before and the kids thought it was the greatest thing ever. Trevor literally licked his plate. (I told him to stop, use manners, blah, blah and Jack said "Oh just let him - what's the big deal?")
And on to the farm we go!!!!
Comments