Hello & Goodbye Minneapolis (Maybe)

Leg 2 – Minneapolis to JFK

            We arrived safely on the ground but getting off the plane was another story. It took much longer than normal. The time on my I Phone said 2:30 PM. Yikes! The connecting flight to JFK leaves at 3. Rushing off the plane and stopping in front of the Delta monitor to get gate information for flight 3426, I find it is C 22. The good news is we landed in C concourse, no problem. Wrong! The sign for gates C 1-28 points to a Tram. Seriously? It is now 2:47. At last the train arrives, I jump on and eventually the doors close. First stop is C 1-21 that means it’s the second stop – not the first. The clock is ticking!

Breathe deeply, get centered and know that there are no worries.  “Everything is as it should be at this moment, everything that happens to me is for my benefit” – my mantra for remaining calm. I arrive at the gate with one minute to spare, they scan my ticket and I rush on board to find my seat waiting. Who needs to eat anyhow? 

We are ready to depart for JFK when we slow down and return to the gate for a mechanical malfunction. Another tight connection awaits me in New York. If this problem cannot be quickly fixed can I possibly get off the plane and wait for the next flight to Heathrow from here? I know there is one in a few hours. The pilot said if it’s not repaired within five minutes he will let me off.  Now that’s amazing that he agreed to my frantic request.

The problem is fixed within a matter of minutes and we are airborne for the Big Apple, with a tail wind putting us there approximately 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Whooooope! I don’t have to worry about making my connection. No Food Again – Blimey! Can I survive on peanuts and water until dinner on the International Flight? The 1-1/2 year old baby next to me is called Blake – my maiden name. Now that makes me smile. J

Observations:

Specific esthetics for flight attendants no longer exists. They come in all shapes, sizes and ages.