My last day of vacation started early. I got up and began repacking my bags, making sure everything was organized for the long trip home. Around 6:30 a.m., Mellissa got Kyndall up for school. It was picture day, and I just love how Mellissa and Trevor always make sure their kids are well-groomed and dressed nicely for special occasions. Watching their little morning routine warmed my heart, and it reminded me once again how quickly children grow.
Once we were all moving, Mellissa and I got ourselves ready for the day. She had kindly offered to drive me from Watford City to Williston, North Dakota, for my flight. We left around 11:30 a.m. to give ourselves plenty of time. Earlier that morning, Mr. C had called me at 9 a.m. to warn that flights might be delayed—or even canceled—because of the government shutdown. That had me a bit on edge, but I reassured myself that no matter what, I would make it home eventually.
Sure enough, at 10:30 a.m. my phone started blowing up with notifications. My original 2:55 p.m. flight was pushed back to 4:15 p.m. A later departure meant a longer travel day, but I decided to keep to my original schedule and head to the airport anyway—better safe than sorry when it comes to flying.
At the gate, I was relieved to learn that the plane was larger than the usual smaller ones that fly out of Williston. That meant I didn’t need to green-tag my carry-on. But that created a new problem—my heavy bag had to go in the overhead bin, and with my shoulders, lifting it was nearly impossible. Thankfully, a kind young man in a red hoodie came to my rescue. Not only did he lift my bag into the bin, but he also retrieved it for me when we landed in Denver. Small acts of kindness mean so much when you’re traveling alone.
To help pass the time, I had downloaded episodes of Sugar Rush onto my tablet. Watching those episodes helped the flight go by quickly and made the delay a little easier to handle.
When we landed in Denver, I had a three-hour layover before my connecting flight to Oklahoma City. Am I the only one who gets off the plane and immediately hunts down the connecting gate? Once I located it, I backtracked to find a restroom and grab a bite to eat. My arrival gate was in the B concourse, but my connecting flight departed out of A, which meant hopping on the airport train—a lifesaver for travelers like me with heavy bags and long layovers.
When it was finally time to board, I found my seat—ironically the very last one on the plane. But I didn’t mind at all because it was right next to the restroom, which turned out to be convenient. For this leg of the trip, I decided to gate-check my bag, which took away the stress of dealing with overhead bins.
The flight to Oklahoma City was a short one, just a little over an hour, and I enjoyed a wonderful conversation with my seatmate, Keisha. She was such a kind lady, and our conversation flowed easily, making the flight feel even shorter.
When we landed, it took about 15 minutes before we could finally pull into position and deplane. I felt such relief to be back in Oklahoma. By the time I got home, it was after 1 a.m., and I was completely exhausted. But all the weariness of the day melted when I found a sweet note waiting for me from my husband, welcoming me back home. He still makes my heart melt with his thoughtfulness and love.
The trip was a success from start to finish, and I’m so glad I went to visit my youngest son Trevor and his family. Travel days can be long, but they’re always worth it when they bring you back to the people you love.
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