Our adventures in Cali: Day 6 – homeward bound

 

As I mentioned in my last post, I had to be up with the sun for my shuttle to airport. They insist on picking you up crazy early to ensure you make it 2 hours prior to your flight. So, I threw the last of my things into my big pink suitcase and headed for the lobby right around 6:15 in the morning. The driver was already waiting. He was super friendly and far more awake than I was. I settled in for a long drive and listened to him chatter about his life.

On highway, I stated to wake up. The hazy sky was brightening and reflections of the week played in my mind. I felt glad to be heading home, as I had been missing my children and my husband all week – but I was grateful for all the people I had the pleasure of getting to know.

There was a fair amount of people at the airport, so it was slow getting through security. It sucked that there were a few really pushy people who were being assholes to the TSA staff, being loud and knocking their wheeled bags into me and other travelers. Not cool. After perusing shops and getting coffee, I still had an hour until my flight. I called home for a bit then settled back into my book.

Once aboard, we were told by the pilot that we’d be waiting to take off as we were pushed back in the line. I immediately worried about my connecting flight, but resolved to not stress over something I could not control. We landed in Phoenix with only 11 minutes to spare – and by the time I got off the packed plane, I only had 4 minutes. I still tried though. And my heart sank when I saw how big the Phoenix airport is. Of course, my gate was totally on the opposite side. Murphy’s Law. I practically ran, doing that run-walking thing. And got to the gate in what I thought was just in the nick of time. However, despite the clock on the wall behind the desk attendant – she informed me that boarding was closed and she could not open the door. I could see the plane and the boarding ramp was still attached! Argh! Another 5 fellow-travelers walked up behind me and were told the same. At this point it was literally 2 minutes after the printed ‘boarding closed’ time on our tickets. I’d gotten there at one minute ‘til. To say I was angry is such an understatement. I did not curse at this woman, but the 5 guys behind me? They said quite a bit.

We all took our crestfallen asses to the US Airways customer service desk and through our clenched teeth got ourselves on the next flight home. We had nearly 2 hours to kill. My fellow Philadelphians were not in much better spirits, so I went off on my own to try to stay in a positive mood (despite my growing need for a nap). I found a decent place to get lunch and realized that I was quite hungry after skipping breakfast. Then I explored the enormous airport, which I must say has the best shops of any airport I’ve ever been to. I kept busy finding cute southwestern crafts and such, and even ‘prickly pear popcorn’ to bring home to the kids and the hubs. And you better believe I was the *first* in line for that flight when it was still many minutes until boarding began.

Here’s the awesome part – the flight was over halfway empty! I should see the irony in this: when it was nearly time for boarding to close, I was counting the seconds until I heard the door slam! Mean, I know…but both seats next to me were empty, and damnit, I wanted them to stay that way! And thankfully, they did. I had a great flight home, napping, taking pictures, reading. I saw the sun rise in the west when leaving California many hours prior and on my way home, I watched as the sun set in the east. It was truly serene.

While digesting the week, I came to some conclusions about our industry – as trite as it seems to say it so plainly, we really do not get the respect we deserve. Yes, we all know this – and it stings all the more for the heart we put into our work and the long hours we toil at making progress. I met a lot of people on my trip, and not one was full of shit. Not one was comfortable just coasting on a little bit of work without a care for the future. Not one seemed like a used car salesman or a shady character. These are hardworking people who love what they do – and they bring pleasure to thousands. That is fucking powerful. That is respectable work. I heard so many accounts and professions of real desire to find better ways to make customers feel good. These are, literally, people who wrack their brains to make better products. It is inspiring to listen, to see the concern, to share my thoughts and feedback from my own experiences and all that I have read in the Eden community and elsewhere, and to know without a doubt that even brighter days are coming. I am proud of the manufacturers of this industry, for forging ahead, for caring so much, and supporting one another – as I saw them do so many times during the week. There is still work to be done, but I believe that the industry is just going to get better and better. Thank you to everyone for such an amazing, insightful, heartwarming, motivating, inspiring week!