Pg 49 - My Life

Hello again, and I hope this day finds you well.  It is kind of funny here in Phoenix. We have been having cooler weather than up north. Not that I am complaining because I am not, I enjoy wearing a long sleeve shirt, but I have met some people from up North disappointed that it is in the 80’s in their state and cooler here. I just have to smile. We will have our hot time soon enough and it will last a long time so cooler weather, keep coming.   On with my story.

Time seems like it flies by fast when you are older and the holidays just keep sneaking up on you. It was already time to decorate Easter eggs and I had a lot of kids around my table. Erik, Betsy, Jose, Jenny, Adias, Jessica, and Zack, which made me, feel right at home. It is fun to see how my kids with their spouses treat each other with decorative Easter baskets to each other. I could feel the love.  

I know how life changes so fast and I wanted to really enjoy this summer, so we did little family treats.  One weekend we went miniature golfing, one weekend we went bowling, one weekend we played lots of games.  We were doing little things until it was time for me to get Kristina and her two precious children. Then the fun really began once Kristina and her kids walked into the house after our long drive. Their Aunts and Uncles spoiled these two precious children, swimming in the pool, time at the zoo, Chucky Cheese and having barbeques. Kristina was in town also for her birthday so we were able to celebrate her birthday before the long drive back. Finally in October Jimmy and I decided to take a little retreat by ourselves for a couple of days and drove to Sedona, Az where we did a pink jeep tour and just relaxed enjoying each other’s company. 

My dad turned 75 yrs old so my sisters and I went to the Carolina’s for a little birthday celebration. It was great to see my sisters and my parents. It is a shame that I don’t get there very often. Life gets in the way, and they live so far away. I guess these are lame excuses. I think this is what makes me try to keep my kids together and with us. I want my family to be and stay close so I try my hardest to keep it that way.

In November my husband planned a special treat for my birthday that was in August.  We really didn’t celebrate it and he had this surprise for me. So he
drove me towards Casa Grande, Az where we met a man with a Hang Glider. Yep, I went hang gliding for the first time and what a high it was. All the kids came to watch me fly.

I have to say it was pretty cool having all the kids living here, well except Kristina, which I missed. We took turns with the holidays. Thanksgiving this time was at Erik and Betsy’s house and they had a great meal in store for us and we all brough dishes to share. We had a Christmas party at Jessica and Zacks house and our Christmas gift to them was going on a cruise.

This was not an easy thing to do, but I planned a cruise for my whole family to Cozumel Mexico to see the Mayan Ruins of Tulum.  I had to work a lot of over time so we could afford this trip. Trying to get all the kids off of work that week was not easy either. But finally our trip was finalized, the kids were excited and we were going to experience something we have never done before as a family.

The day finally arrived and ten of us were flying out of Phoenix with a connection in Texas and on to New Orleans. Kristina and her husband were driving from Oklahoma.  We arrived at the airport in different cars two hours before our scheduled departure of 6:30 AM. Jimmy, Regina and I checked in outside with the sky cap. We were told that Jenny had to check inside because of her tour with Iraq. I guess since she was out of the country she was to be security checked.  It was now 4:45 AM and no one was at the American counter inside yet, it was still closed.  There was no roped off areas, no line indications, no sigh where domestic and international travelers should line up. So eventually people just started lining up where ever they thought they might get the fastest service when American decided to open.

Finally two ticket agents came out and moved one of the lines so that other travelers could get by.  Fortunately a couple of my children and their spouses found themselves in the correct lines and they got moved up front fast.  We thought about bringing the rest of the group in with them, but the crowd was pretty restless and getting upset if people were cutting in line.  Two more agents came out to help finally. Then quit a bit later a tall thin blond female American employee come out amongst the people  standing in line and pointed telling everyone that the line one of my kids were in was for International flights only. Some of the customers were extremely upset and said that they have been waiting in line for over an hour and they were not going to go to the back of a domestic line. Her only response was “I am only the messenger.”

The line was not moving and my daughter was concerned but I told her to just be patient.  I purchased these tickets over two months ago; they surely would not leave without us.  Finally, all the kids except Jenny her husband Jose and her daughter Adias had their tickets and we were getting anxious; time was of the essence now. The agent called to Jenny and she rushed up to the counter. The American agent looked at her confirmation and told her coldly, “I am sorry but it is 30 minutes before the plane leaves so your luggage can not go aboard the plane.”  I yelled at her that we have been in line since 4:30AM and we had to catch a ship at 4:00PM, it’s a family reunion and all planned.  The lady was stern and said to my daughter, “well you can go but you can’t take your bags with you, they have to stay.”  I asked if her bags could go on another plane and she told me no.  She did say that maybe she can take her bags on another flight and go standby but all the flights were over booked. I argued with her until she finally looked up at me and told me “Now you can’t get on the plane either and in ten minutes the plane will leave without you.”  

My husband grabbed me and off we ran after a tearful good bye to Jenny, to meet the rest of the kids. So because of American Airlines we left behind 2 Iraq veterans and my granddaughter.

Well I have grandkids crying for my attention so I will finish this story tomorrow. Just remember not to take life for granted.