Holding Pattern

I'm not sure how that little Dodge Colt did it but we whipped into Kansas City airport just 10 minutes before the flight was to take off.

10 minutes.

There was no time for long-term parking.  In fact, I barely had time to park at all.  Thankfully, Kansas City airport was small and back then, there was not the same level of security as there is today so I jetted myself into the short-term parking lot and parked in the front row, just a short walk from the entrance.  I grabbed my bag and hustled my 4 month pregnant self to the check-in counter.  Breathless, I explained to the clerk I was supposed to be on a flight that was getting ready to take off.  She tapped on her keyboard ---click clack, click clack and said, "This flight might have taken off already.  Let me call the  . . . "

My heart was pounding in my chest and I was literally shaking.  I never felt so desperate for something in my entire life.  Desperate.  She calls the gate.

"I have a passenger . . . oh good, yes please do.  Okay, I'm getting her checked in now . . yes, okay.  I'll let her know.  Great, thanks."  She then says to me, "You are so lucky.  They were just closing the doors but they are holding the flight for you.  I told them we'd have you checked in ---this will just take a few moments click clack, click clack . .  okay so that will be $800 and . . "

I pulled out my pretty Red Cross check and handed it to the clerk.  She stares down at it, looks at me and I could tell she did not want to deliver the news . . ."I'm sorry, we don't accept checks. .  ."

I just broke down crying.  I had been trying to get to Florida for hours and now I'm this close and --I can't pay for the flight.  Up until now I pretty much held it together but now, I just couldn't take it.  I stood there sobbing and simply said, "It's all I have.  The check is good, its a real check and --its all I have but I just have to get to Florida and . . "  She cut me off.

"Okay, I'll be right back."  She took the check with her.  A short while later she returns and there's a man with her.  I could tell by the looks on their faces they came to deliver bad news.  The man is holding the check, he holds it out to me and says, "Unfortunately, we don't accept checks and I might be able to over ride that for a smaller amount but  --this is quite a large check and --I'm sorry but we just don't accept checks.  Do you have another form of payment, perhaps?"  I reach into my purse which I'm sure they thought to grab my wallet or something but instead, I grabbed my military Emergency Leave orders.  I laid them on the counter and with tears rolling down my face I said, "I have no other form of payment but that Red Cross check."  I pushed my orders towards them and said, "But I have to get to Florida tonight."  The man picked up my orders, gave them a quick glance and said to the woman, "Print her a ticket."  He then looked at me and said, "Good luck to you."  Then he walked away.  The woman was preparing my ticket and her phone rang, " . . .yes, I'm printing it now.  I know.  Yes, right now.  She will.  Okay, I'll tell her."  She hung up giving me a warm smile and said, "They're still holding the flight.  I think the pilot is getting impatient. . . I know this must be something important . . "  She handed me my ticket and said, "I hope everything works out for you.  Go now, they're waiting for you."

I grabbed the ticket and boarding pass and FLEW.    At least I didn't have the security measures that are in place to day --I sailed right to the gate where a host of attendants were waiting for me.  They were impatient but kind.  They were motioning for me to hurry to the gate.  It was almost as if I were celebrity status.  Every attendant was waiting on me ---one grabbed my boarding pass, one grabbed my bag, "I'm going to store this for you up front."  Another was waiting to show me to my seat . . .they were all very nice and very accommodating.  I just wish the passengers were the same.  As soon as I boarded the flight I got stares and "tisks" and people rolling their eyes at me . . There she is!  The stupid lady that can't get to the airport on time and held up our flight. . "  As I walked to my seat, it felt like every eye was angrily plastered on me.  They had absolutely no idea what I had been through.

I finally got to my seat and no sooner than I got my seat belt clicked on, I heard the pilot come over the speaker and the plane began to pull out.

I was finally on my way to Florida but looking at the time, Mom was scheduled to go into surgery in just a few hours.