Eden's Wanderings and Wonderings

Thursday, January 22, 2009 – Home

After a few exciting and historic few days in the nation's capital, I am homeward bound. I woke up at 3:30 this morning, or at least that’s when the alarm on my cell phone awakened me. I tried to sleep a little bit more – unsuccessfully, I might add. Norma is still warmly tucked in bed and I try to get ready without waking her up. The wake-up call came and I am at the lobby awaiting the taxi that is going to take me to Reagan National airport. I have a flight from DC to Pittsburg connecting to SFO.

I am early and waiting for this leg of my trip. I will be home this afternoon. When they called us for boarding, I was alarmed that they loaded us up on a bus to meet our plane. I hope this is not some 9-seater propeller thingie!

So we loaded up on a small plane – about a 50-passenger small, Air Wisconsin. Hmm, if you have read my entries before, you will know that this is a bothersome scenario for me. Small plane, USAirways, gliding on the Hudson River, snow…. Hmmm

Bravely, I boarded that small plane (where your carry-ons barely fit anywhere) and listened to the safety precautions rather well. I had no other choice. The flight attendant talked or rather narrated the safety measures, put the microphone down so she can locate that fold-out pamphlet with the details of what to do in an emergency, demonstrate the seatbelt and oxygen mask procedures - sans microphone. She does the narrating - picks the microphone again for more instructions…then pantomiming what she just narrated - get the picture? No talking and demo-ing at the same time… we are too small for that!!! This actually reminded me of my Chicago – Sioux Falls flight with my friend, Gail! That is another long story. And one that I wanted to forget but ...

We were reminded to turn off all electronics as we get ready for our flight. Dutifully I did. The cute flight attendant pulled out her jumpseat and started working her cell phone. I think she was texting because she was smiling the entire time she was with the cell phone – facing her passengers, no less! Did she not just tell us to turn off all electronic devices?????? I guess the crew are exempt from the no electronics mandate. Here she is.

After I snapped this picture, she came over to my seat to ask if I took a picture. I said "yes". She asked why and I said "Just because". She left me without any incident... Hmmm. Wonder if I would have been barred by homeland security if she had pursued my taking her photo...

All’s well that ends well. I arrived in Pittsburg and the place is blanketed in snow.