Monday, October 01, 2007




THE HAWAII TRIP (Part One)

Were it not for the sacrifices of others, I would never have been able to take this trip in the first place. My wife, Jean, my brother Bob, and our son Scott, all helped make the planned journey into a reality. A hurricane, near Hawaii, also threatened to destroy my arrival, but it was diverted almost at the last minute.

Even so, travel days and I have not been really fond of each other. Preparing for a trip is always a hassle. Did I remember everything? Sleeping the night before is fitful. What if I oversleep? By 4AM I was doing my last minute packing. I went to Salt Lake City from Layton, Utah on 15 August 2007, arriving by auto, with the help of a neighbor, who worked at the airport. He dropped me off at about 7AM. This prevented my wife from driving the 40 miles each way, in heavy traffic. Unfortunately, this required a substantial wait on my part, since my flight did not leave till 1PM. I brought a good book and busied myself reading while I waited. Still, having waited, alone, in many an airline terminal, while on temporary duty (TDY), with the military, I had forgotten how incredibly lonely it can be.

Anytime I saw families with children and heard the words, “Daddy” or “Grandpa,” it was all I could do not to look up. I had not traveled by air since 2004 and air travel had changed drastically. Perhaps the word that described it best was “delay.” We had to wait for our bags to be inspected and checked, not only our checked bags but our carry-ons. Certain things could be checked, others could not.

Restrictions were enforced with regard to the type and amounts of liquids we brought on board. I had to get rid of my bottled water, for instance. I asked if I could at least save the container, for refill later. No, I was told, we have no place to dump the water. I would have been better off bringing an empty water container and then filling it up in the terminal area. This I realized too late and refused to pay four dollars for a container of water once I got to the terminal.

After our pockets were emptied, our shoes removed and we had passed through metal detectors, we were randomly screened. Random turned out to be me. I was told to have a seat, this might take awhile. More delay. “Routine” question were asked of me, like do I travel much? What was the purpose of my journey? Did I have any substances I want to declare before they hand search my belongings? Questions like these continued for a while and then I was permitted to put my belt, hat and shoes back on, refill my pockets, retrieve my boarding pass and my hand carries and be on my way.

I was nervous at first, even though I was completely innocent of any wrong doing, but then I remembered the world we are living in has changed and there are devious people traveling today that make traveling for the rest of us less than pleasant. We waited in the terminal area and were told our flight had been slightly delayed; some sort of maintenance problem. More delay. At length, we boarded and then waited further because someone that was late had not arrived yet. I didn’t think they would hold up a flight for one person, while the rest of us waited. I had missed many a flight in the past when I had been late. Why did they not hold up the flight for me then? This must be a pretty important person we are waiting for or they are just telling us this when, in reality, there is still a maintenance delay. Anyway, finally, we took off, in a plane full of passengers and landed in Las Vegas about two hours later.

It seemed like a hard landing, we bounced several times, but I am no expert. It was approaching midnight by the time our Las Vegas to Hawaii flight was to board. It had already been a long day and I was pretty tired. However, I did not wish to complain, even silently. After all, that’s what I get for flying economy class.

As we were boarding, I noticed a man ahead of me, in an electric wheel chair hurriedly show his ticket and then continue down the boarding ramp. About five people before me, the boarding was suspended, temporarily, we were told. There was just a “slight medical emergency.” We waited. Fifteen minutes, twenty minutes. Suddenly, down the boarding ramp rush two policemen, and several firemen. What kind of “slight medical emergency,” requires this group? After almost an hour of delay, a very drunk and angry diabetic in an electric powered wheel chair comes storming out of the ramp, escorted by the policemen and firemen. The drunk is shouting obscenities and is taken away. What happened? We have no idea.

The rest of us finally board. By this time I have been up for over twenty hours. I am not exactly a party animal and it is way past my bedtime and I still have a seven hour flight ahead of me. Sleeping in a cramped plane is like trying to rest in a straight jacket; it doesn’t work. I am hungry and tired and could stand something to eat.

Airport prices for food are outlandishly expensive, so I had brought some crackers and beef jerky with me, but these had long since been consumed. In Vegas, being desperate, I had waited to order a burger but the line was so long and the delay so great, that I ran out of time before our supposed boarding. It’s a seven hour plus flight to Hawaii. Surely they plan to feed us? Oh yes, if you are ready to buy a meal. OK, fine. You have my attention. What’s for dinner? We have crackers, peanuts, potato chips and booze, fruit drinks, soda pop and salads. How much? Five dollars. Sigh…OK…I’ll have a salad and some peanuts. At least I can get some protein and veggies.

Sorry, sir. We don’t have salads for order except on our flight that goes to Hawaii from Chicago. But your menu says…Never mind. I’ll have some peanuts and orange juice. It really was not a big deal. I need to lose weight anyway; I just didn’t plan on starting my diet that night. After a very cramped, unpleasant ride, we arrive in Hawaii, Maui, more correctly. My brother Bob is waiting and we claim our bags and head for the twenty minute ride in his truck, to his house.

We haven’t seen each other for some time so we visit and renew memories. Are you hungry? He asks. Starved I say, but by this time I am also experiencing a raging headache. Where do you want to eat? He says. I don’t know and I really don’t, since it is my first time to Maui, but I am hoping for some place quiet. How about here? He says. Sure I say, having never eaten at a Hard Rock Café before. The clue was in the name, uh duh, but I didn’t get it, way too tired to get anything. Before long, we are screaming at each other over the music and our meals, just to be heard.

It was good to see him again but now I am really tired and my head feel s like someone set off a grenade in my brain. We visit more, we get to his beautiful house, he shows me my room and I collapse into bed, more fatigued that I have been in a long time. Not exactly a typical day for me, but it was a day that was FINALLY over.

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