I woke up that morning inexplicably calm. Once I started to question why I was so mellowed out on a travel day, I got the feeling that this would be one of "those" days. The kind where you can't control ANYTHING that happens to you so why not just go with the flow?
It was one of those days and I handled it quite well if I may say so myself!
Once the gate attendee handed me my boarding pass for my only option to get to Clarksburg (the last flight out at 8:35) instead of heaving a BIG SIGH, rolling my eyes, cursing under my breath and grumbling 'thank you' for the 4.5 hour wait...I smiled kindly, giggling to myself at the gate lady's shocked and a little apprehensive facial expression to my calm reaction, and remembered that the Pittsburgh airport has FREE Wi-Fi!
After updating the President of Gamama Kappa Chapter I would be much later, and would keep her posted on my whereabouts, she ran off to class as I called Mrs. G. What is so funny is that Mrs. G shared that actually they could have left when I called, and retrieved me from the Pittsburgh airport and returned to campus by the time my next flight departed.
This prompted a great chuckle and an 'oh you're kidding...ha....ha....oh well'
Then I called Tiffany to chat about Delaware - the first of many chats about Delaware. I know I haven't mentioned formally yet (because I've done an awful job updating this blog) that I am moving to the University of Delaware in February to colonize our newest chapter. We had our first conference call last night. Afterwards I asked myself if perhaps I should start another blog - elsewhere, just for me and my cynical/critical self. I haven't decided yet.
After countless hours and a tuna Subway sandwich, we boarded the plane. At the time of boarding I felt the "calm" escape me as I learned not only were we going to take off in the monsoon that had come upon us outside the safe walls of the boarding gate, but I was not boarding a direct flight (as originally anticipated) to Clarksburg, we would stop over in Morgantown! Hoorah!
Admitting to myself that I was indeed "gronky" - grumpy and cranky - I pulled out my little umbrella, hiked up my pants and waded through the tidal wave to our little puddle jumper of a plane.
Trying not to trip during the climb up the wet staircase to the plane, while fumbling with my umbrella so I could actually fit through the door, I heard a warm, welcoming voice say, "Hey! How are ya?"
"Fine thanks," I mumble. Only to stumble through the door and into my seat to turn around and face a tall dark and handsome (yeah it's cliche, yet so appropriate) pilot smiling at me. IMMEDIATELY the most dorky grin finds its way to my face and plants itself. And I mean, PLANTS itself. I couldn't stop grinning like an IDIOT.
Yes, he noticed. How could he not notice a goofy-idiot-grinning-acting-like-a-second-grader-girl sitting in the front? He must have taken an interest because during our 20 minute (literally) flight to Morgantown I learned:
He only lacks 20 hours to be a full time commercial airline pilot.
He's been flying since he was 16 (he got his pilot's licence BEFORE his driver's licence).
He lost his driver's licence for a year soon after he got it for street racing.
He's 22.
He's not made wise decisions in girlfriends in the past.
He has a male dog named Simba (looked like a golden retriever - yes, he showed me a picture on his phone).
He's from Clarksburg, WV.
He flies the same route 4 times a day (round trip)...but the Friday I fly back out is his "off day". [sad face]
And that's all I can think of right now.
Isn't it funny how much control men can have on a woman's attitude without even realizing it? I was gronky-no-more!
Motion-sick? Ha. What do you think? I mentioned the MONSOON we were flying through, and the fact that there was a 20 minute flight followed by a 10 minute flight meant that we would never fully rise above the storm's altitude....what I'm trying to say is that our little puddle-jumper reacted as if it were a popcorn kernel overheating!
It was everything I could do to limit the amount of green in my face, smile, and act as though laying my head back and closing my eyes was just my way of listening intently to the adorable pilot-man's stories.
Luckily for take off and landing he had to sit in the front, and as he was not facing me I was able to take my emergency exit instructions and rapidly fan myself. Earnestly trying to think myself out of the up-chuck reflex that SO wanted to take over my body.
We landed. Finally. 10 minutes felt like....well, a lot more.
As I de-boarded the handsome-pilot-man called for an umbrella for me, even thought I already had my small one out, he thought I needed a full-size one. As I was leaving I said, "too bad you won't be on my flight out Friday"
He responded, "Yeah...I'll see you later" with a smile.
What does that mean?
The cold air was exactly what I needed to release a lot of the green that still invaded my pale complexion.
