Our plane was due to leave La Guardia at 12:55, flying to Chicago, then Vegas, then El Paso. After a taxi ride to the airport, hauling all of our many, heavy bags to check in, and getting through security, we were so happy our plane was on time. We board the airplane at 12:30, taxied out to the tarmac, and sat there. Our pilot announced that there were thunder storms surrounding the area, and La Guardia had grounded all take offs. He didn't know for how long, but he was going to shut the engines down while we waited. And waited. And waited. When this hit,
though, I was so glad to be on the ground. It shook the plane relentlessly. I was scared, and we were on the ground! About two and a half hours later, the pilot announced they were allowing planes to leave, and we were number 10. When we started moving, I was so happy. I knew we could still make our connection in Chicago. But we didn't move to the runway. We went back to the gate. Our three hours on the tarmac had run, and by law, they are required to return to the gate and give us the opportunity to get off the plane. They told us it would be about 15 to 20 minutes. It was two more hours. The thunderstorms had once again grounded planes, so we were stuck. After two hours, we taxied out again. Because of the back up of planes trying to get out, we were number 33 in line for take off. So after another hour and a half on the tarmac, for a total of six and a half hours on the plane only moving about 20 yards, we took off.
We got to Chicago a little before nine p.m. Of course, all connecting flights to Texas were gone. We were spending the night in Chicago. They told us they had put us on a plane departing Chicago at 6:30 a.m., and they were setting up cots on Concourse C for us to sleep on. Ummm...no thanks. Oh..and there would be no bags. Our bags would not be returned to us until we were in El Paso.
They gave us a "voucher" to call to get a hotel room. This "voucher" was NOT for a free room. Because the delay was due to weather, the airlines do not provide a hotel room. The voucher is simply a number to call, and they will research and find you the cheapest room nearest the airport. Which was fine with me! I had no idea where to stay in Chicago, so just find me a place to lay my weary head! I was frustrated and exhausted, but surprisingly calm.
There was a shuttle from the airport to the Sleep Inn. The kids were starving, as we hadn't eaten since breakfast except for airplane food. As the shuttle pulled in to the hotel, there was a TGIFridays and the same parking lot. Thank you, Lord, for small miracles. We had supper, that Kylee is still raving about to this day (I honestly think that child was starving), and went to bed. We slept from 11 pm to 4 am and headed back to the airport to try to get home once again.
Our flight was on time. The marquee showed service from Chicago to El Paso. YAY!! We boarded the plane, pulled out our blankets, and settled in for a nap to get us home. The pilot came over the speaker to welcome us aboard our flight to El Paso...via Los Angeles!!!!!! That's right folks. We literally flew ACROSS the country to get home!! We left Friday afternoon looking out the airplane window of the Hudson River, and we landed Saturday in Los Angeles, California, where we very literally saw the waves crashing in on the sandy beaches.
After a brief (thank God!) stop in LA, we flew to El Paso. I have never, ever, ever in my life been so happy to be in El Paso, Texas, ever. The kids were so excited to see their puppies.
Just as we walked in the door and they were loving their dogs, my cell phone rang. It was a flight attendant from Southwest. Kylee left her laptop on the plane. We (well, Kylee and I) had to go back to the airport and get it.
Then we were home. For good. Home sweet home. Well, until the kids left Wednesday for the beach.
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