On our way back from Florida two weeks ago, we had a stop over in Atlanta. While printing out our boarding passes, we saw that we were in the very last row of the plane. Also our layover was only for 20 minutes and it was at noon. Since we had to buy a ticket for Logan, we also needed a car seat, so we would have to undue the car seat, wait for everyone to deplane and make a made dash to our connecting flight. So, we politely asked the ticket counter lady if there was anyway to change seats, and without out even looking at us here response, "The plane is full, we cannot move anyone." But the plane is full and we have a kid, "We can't move anyone." So what did I do at that moment? You know the moment I'm speaking of. It's the moment when you fight back every primal urge, to take the person to the boarding area, run her through the boarding pass machine and then stuff her in the overhead storage.
But instead, I took plan B - I smiled. The reason I smiled is because I had mentally prepared for a tough day of traveling. I didn't want any surprises. Plus, sitting in the back of the plane has its advantages, like basking in the aroma of people cracking one off, and the blue water.
Every day we here stories of how work and life just sap every ounce of positive attitude people have. I here how the endless e-mails and silly meeting, the random deadlines, and performance expectations are too much to bear. But we must become proactive rather than reactive.
So, we get on the oversold plane (which is a nice way to say It will be packed and I'll be sitting in between two 400 pound sweating people whom haven't bathed in a week) get the car seat attached, and get the kids buckled in.
But the best part is that I'm happy. Why am I happy? No, it's not because they just served the liquor. I'm happy because I started my day with some daily movements, I ate a great breakfast, and I took a few minutes to mentally prepare for a long day of travel with lots of unknowns. Why am I happy? I'm happy because I wasn't a victim today. I didn't let the day get the best of me. I'm still smiling. I'm happy because I cam prepared for today.
Once we got off the plane, we grabbed the stroller; got Logan buckled in, and took off. A mile and half later down a flight of steps we got on the train to take us to the next terminal. We got off the train up a flight of steps, and another half mile through Lunch traffic we got to our gate. Just in time for final boarding call, in fact the door had already been shut. We made it on the plane, but because this time we were seated behind an exit row we had to move, because children cannot be in an exit row or behind an exit row. The flight attendant calmly rearranged half the plane so we could comply with FAA rules. We made it on and we made it home. In the end we were all smiling.
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