My first flight ever was my worst. For work had to go from Syracuse to Sebree, Kentucky. Flight left Syracuse, arriving in Indianapolis only to take a puddle jumper to Evansville, Indiana and then a rental car to Sebree. Went to get my luggage in Indianapolis for the Evansville flight but was told that they had loaded it for me already (well aren’t they nice) and when I questioned to make sure, they told me my luggage was actually loaded on another plane in Syracuse so it would be waiting for me when I got to Evansville. How thoughtful – maybe a band too!
Walked across the tarmac to take this little prop plane that held about 12 people. Only 5 on our flight and the pilot with the short hanging cotton curtain on rings turns around in his seat and yells out to us that everyone needs to spread out to even out the weight, which made this newbie pretty nervous. (images of the plane flipping over if someone changed seats or moved suddenly came to mind). I silently weighed the other 4 passengers and knew that this heavy man should really be sitting on the floor midplane but he didn’t make a move to ensure our safety. I didn’t move an inch worrying I’d send us in a death spiral. Then we were delayed as they put foam down on the runway next to us for a plane that lost an engine. Watching our pilot crank his side window open to look at the scene didn’t reassure me either. (thought those windows were outdated in the 70’s even in cars). The fumes were ungodly sitting there for 75 minutes making me wish the flight was cancelled and I could walk home. So happy when we landed in Evansville but was positive the pilot was messing with us, cutting and restarting the engine while we were aloft. The engine would roar which was disconcerting but just as suddenly the engine noise would totally disappear which I realized is even more disconcerting. I imagined him chuckling behind that little curtain particularly when he told us to brace for a bouncy landing (sure now they don’t lie to me). Then getting the news that they lied and I had no luggage. Flying in jeans, blazer and sneakers wouldn’t cut it for the evening work meeting I was supposed to attend. (no shorts or flip flops I swear).
Well the airline promised to deliver my luggage by 5:30pm (landed at 2:30pm).Got my rental car, entered on the driver’s side, read the instructions, took off my blazer slinging it on the seatback of the front passenger seat, put my purse on the passenger seat and was just happy that I was safely on the ground. I went to enter onto a major highway to Kentucky accelerating quickly to merge. Suddenly my passenger side door swung totally open, my blazer flew out the door, run over by a truck and watched in my rear view mirror as my purse bounced down the highway dumping the contents on the highway. Pulled over and dodging cars and trucks, retrieved my now dirty off white blazer and most of the contents of my purse in about 8 trips to and from on the highway. Finally got to the hotel bringing my briefcase, purse, paperwork and having no more hands, I put on my blazer despite it being dirty. When I got to the desk the woman asked me what happened, I was surprised she could tell I’d been through an ordeal but figured I was arriving late and must look totally frazzled. I told her that I had a little accident when my rental car door opened unexpectantly and everything fell out of the car. She suddenly ran out from behind the desk and said do you want me to call an ambulance, asking if I was hurt badly. I was confused and embarrassed about her reaction when she pointed to my jacket, I looked and saw the tire tracks which were across part of the front and all across my back. Oops looked like I’d been run over by a semi – nope just my jacket. Great. I had to laugh though.
Since my luggage didn’t actually arrive at the hotel till 6:00am the next morning(more lies), I went to that evening work meeting totally underdressed with a polo shirt, jeans and sneakers to get a lot of good natured ribbing about my classy attire from colleagues I’d never met in person before. I love first impressions. 2 days later I opted to cancel my return puddle jumper and drive from Sebree, Kentucky to St Louis Missouri for my return flight to Syracuse. I arrived well before the plane from Evansville and was so happy I avoided that flight. I won’t bore you further and tell you what happened on the St Louis to Pittsburgh leg on the way back to Syracuse. Just let’s say I’m a nervous flyer and I think I was created not born that way.