So, I’ve mentioned in other posts about the family gathering happening at Christmas this year. Well, Dad lives sufficiently far enough away that my son and I will be flying. (My son does not like traveling for long distances/times and gets rather grumpy, even as he gets older, when we do. The Ex and I used to tag-team drive back to my parents’ for the holidays – a trip of approximately 16 hours across half the country. I would drive it again, except for some health issues, which I’ll mention below, and the fact even I don’t want to drive that long without tag-teaming. Suffice it to say, kiddo and I have no choice but to fly.)
To that end, about two weeks ago, Dad made reservations for me and kiddo to fly out. My brothers and their families made their arrangements earlier (heading into NYC and then driving up after visiting the City a couple of days, I guess), so Dad wanted to get me sorted out. Booking flights while talking to Dad on Facetime is an adventure, let me tell you! LOL
Let me add this here – since I turned fifty a couple of years ago, I’ve been discovering that the whole ‘It’s downhill from there!’ idea really is true. Both sides of my family have a history of arthritis. I played catcher in softball for ten years as a kid, and for years had an issue with my right knee because of dislocating it when I was eighteen. I fully expected issues like this when I got older, whatever that meant. What that ‘meant’ was, turning fifty and finally getting onto a health kick and walking to lose weight (over sixty0 pounds at the time) plus the history of arthritis equals a very bad hip. As in severe osteoarthritis, loose cartilage, bone spurs and a torn labrum. What does that really translate into? Well, the doctor was trying to convince me to get a full right hip replacement at the time.
I refused.
Okay, I’m probably an idiot here, but the way I see it is, I can still get around, just not as quickly as before. I did some research into this, and the average life of a replacement hip is about 20-25 years, and that means another one in my 70s. Sorry, but not going to do this more than once! That, plus I hate the thought of going under the knife, and at the moment I’m the only one in the house who drives as well as has a job. In a few years, if kiddo’s still at home, maybe I’ll do it, but not right now. Anyway, from that point, I was more determined to find ways to live with my issues. And I did. I have a few sound methods to help, and though I have stiffness/pain issues, I can essentially still get around, if much more slowly than I’m used to, but at least I’m able to do it without much extra help other than a cane. That’s fine too, as far as I’m concerned. Really, the biggest thing I need to factor in now is the time. Which Dad and I did when we made the reservations. At least an hour and a half layover, no matter what airport we go through to change.
Fast forward ahead two weeks to the holiday weekend. I received two texts from Expedia/American Airlines announcing they’d switched up my schedule. I was afraid of that. I briefly worked in the airline industry for a couple of years, and I know if you book too far ahead you have to deal with the changes made when pilots/FAs bid on flights and such. Well, in my case, it made a big difference. Flights were cut. Times were changed. Now, the flight out won’t be a big deal because they ADDED time to our layover. Doubled it, really, so that’s okay. It’s only a challenge for Dad who has to meet us at the airport, and as he’s driving in from about two hours out, that could be an issue. Still, he told me not to worry about it.
The flight BACK, however, became a problem. Scheduled through Philly (I hate that airport!! Sorry, Philadelphia!), I had almost two hours to get from one gate to another, with a chance of grabbing some food for dinner, such as it can be during a hectic travel day. So what did they do? They SUBTRACTED time, leaving me with a half hour to get from gate to gate, and when I fly through there, I’m usually having to go from the end of one concourse, all the way across the airport to the end of another concurse just to make my flight. When I was at full health, this was a challenge to do. When I have a bum hip? No way in hell I’ll make it! The only solution – call the airline and see about getting it changed.
The hurricane on the East coast right now and the holiday weekend made that a challenge, so after waiting on hold for over two hours and not getting through, I tried again last night. A half hour wait on hold is a lot better than the previous attempt! Still, I got through and spoke to Barbara – and oh, my, she was an angel! I explained the situation, told her there was no way I’d be able to do that with my hip, etc. and she agreed. (also agreed that the computers do a horrible job of adjusting flights in situations like that!) End result, we are rescheduled to fly through Charlotte, NC this time and we have an hour and a half again (and a smaller airport!) which gives me and kiddo time to make our way without having to rush too much. RELIEF! She even made note on my flight information about my mobility issues, so hopefully that will translate into early boarding (not holding my breath, but you never know).
Now, cross your fingers we don’t have weather issues when we actually fly out there ….!
A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That 