I’m back! Tales from Southwest. And flying.

I am home from the Blissdom blogging conference. {Thank you Oreck so so so much.} Let me tell you — that conference was such a blessing for me to have attended — I learned a great deal and met fabulous people. So I thought today, on Monday, when I write that typical miscellany, that I’d share with you some things from my flying adventure. I’ve got more to come — about Blissdom and why you really should wear comfortable shoes at Opryland — and about the fabulous and amazing people I met. But, today, I thought it’s all about me, the planes, the people, and Southwest.

Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants can be a bit sassy. My first flight, from Minneapolis to Chicago, had the funniest flight attendant I’ve ever heard. I kept thinking can she say that as she’d tell the safety instructions. It was actually quite a blessing — her sarcastic humor calmed my nerves as I looked out the window at the countryside far below.

Boarding Southwest is rather unique. I would laugh each time I had to board one of their planes {which was four times over the course of the last four days}. All of us grown adults, gathering around looking at each other tickets and exclaiming I’m B13 what are you? And then, once you are aboard you have the awkward moment of finding your seat. There’s a strategy — you want an overhead bin, and if you’re like me and want the window — and you have to decide on the perfect seat fast while people sitting stare and wonder if you’re going to pick the seat next to them.

Wings make interesting pictures. This was the view between Minneapolis and Chicago. Enjoy.

Interesting and wonderful connections. On the way home from Blissdom I had a chance to sit next to Sallie, who was there representing California Raisins {love those — high in iron — which is perfect for my Samuel}, and a really kind man who was a doctor. Anyways, we all chatted the entire flight, which was excellent as we were about 3 rows from the back. And, lol, yes, we chatted, but it was almost more like loud talking and really intense lip reading since we were sitting so far back in a very noisy plane. We talked about raisins, blogging, medical imaging, Celiac Disease, parenting, Blissdom, medical conferences, and more. All within an hour and fifteen minutes. 🙂

Landing in Chicago on a windy day is not for me. Now, I know why they call Chicago the Windy City. Oh my goodness. As the plane was approaching Chicago {such a cool skyline — would have taken pictures but I was getting bumped into the person next to me and we couldn’t have personal belongings out then} we hit terrible turbulence. Since I’ve flown so much in the last months I’ve been starting to discern turbulence and this was choppy. {Can you use that word? We use that when we’re on the lake…} Thank goodness for Sallie  sitting across the aisle from me. A couple of times we would look at each other with just a wee bit of horror as the plane landed in that wind. Honestly, my friends, I am so grateful that we sat next to each other. If it wasn’t for our reassurances to each other I might have actually gotten to a panic point. And besides that — she’s become a friend. 🙂

Doctors don’t get agitated during bumpy landings. Or at least, this doctor, who was very smart, who was chuckling at us as we were standing to leave since we had a little bit of anxiety as we landed. I almost cheered when those wheels hit the ground. Anyways, I think it’s fun as I’ve got all of these bloggers business cards, and sponsors business cards, and now, I have a business card from a doctor from Chicago in my wallet.

The long flight home. Once I landed in Chicago I found out there was a delay in leaving. I was supposed to leave at 1:50 and finally got boarded a bit before 3:00. Then once we all boarded {I was A57 — I made the Southwest A team} the 737 {I read my safety instructions} backed up and then we heard the words that there was a slight delay and we’d have to wait about 15 minutes till we took off. Then as we approached Minneapolis the captain came on again and told us that we’d be stuck in a holding pattern – circling – Minneapolis. He apologized again for the delay and it will be just a bit more of a wait.  Almost 45 minutes later we were cleared to land, an easy landing, and finally I was back home. Wait. A couple pilots on board and we all waited for them to get off. Then they needed a man, let’s call him Chuck, who was flying to Denver. So we waited {and all cheered} as Chuck, who was in the back of the plane, came running through the aisles to get out. Finally, I was able to get off, grab my luggage {and go home}.

The toys. I got the boys two Southwest diecast airplanes. I think Samuel has decided that I got him two Southwest diecast airplanes. Oh well. I’m just grateful that the giftshop in the Windy City had those fun little toys. And that, grin, I had time to get them while I waited.

I think that’s it. I met another great blogger named Tawanna who blogs all about travel on her cool blog Mom’s Guide to Travel, who just wrote a brilliant and funny piece on flying Southwest. We sat by each other at the gates in Nashville joking about flying. And, better than that, I made a friend. A real, good friend.

I cannot wait to share more with you. I’ve had some blog posts rumbling in my head, and ideas, and beautiful pictures and more. I will tell you, that it is good to be back. Thanks for waiting for me to post — and can you believe it? Two days. No post. That hasn’t happened since, hmm, I went to that blogging conference back in October. I’m sensing a trend….

Blessings on your Monday! Linking with my lovely pal, Carissa.