Part II - Facing My Fear of Flying

Or

How to Get Lost in the Denver Airport for Dummies

Let me just start by saying, I have learned a couple of things about myself, flying, airports and people in the last two months that I did not know;

1)     Some airports are bigger than a lot of cities I have lived in.

2)     Airport personnel may ask you important questions that are crucial to the success of your flight BUT, that does not mean that they LISTEN to hear your answers.

3)      Some people really, well…they really surprise me.

4)     Lastly, although I am afraid of flight...I am MORE afraid of “Missing” my flight.

If Don Bosley is one thing… it is a Texas gentleman!  That was my thought as he took both my bags and walked beside me, his ex-wife, all the way through the airport parking lot and up to the Frontier Airline Check-In desk. How many ex-husbands do you know who would do that? …Me either!

I met Don in college my sophomore year at Brigham Young University, at one of those college church activities the first week-end in early September 1967. You know that kind of activity that colleges loving refer to as “ice breakers”, designed with “coupling” in mind.

BYU is a church owned university nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah…in what Mormons refer to as “Happy Valley” just south of Salt Lake City. “Happy” is the name…”Courtship” is the game, thus…Happy Valley! J

Don was the kind of a guy who stood-out…striking looks and warm and flirty personality. Need I say more?  Half the girls in the room were eyeing him already when he caught my attention.  Wow…I better stay away from that one…he is probably a “real mover”. There is no way someone who looks like that will have any “manners”, was my first thought. But boy was I wrong!  Don is one of those people in my life who has always surprised me.

Then...

and Now...

Had to highjack these pics from his fb page so the age is a little off...but at least you can see what I mean

On our first date we walked into an already started and packed meeting, on a Sunday evening, a few weeks after we had first met. We arrived a little late so I was thinking we would just stand and listen at the back of the room.

First of all, I didn’t like being late to anything and this was our first date, and yes I was already judging him and watching for red flags.

 I saw him scanning the room as we walked in but didn’t realize he was looking for a chair, just thought he was looking to see who was there and like I said, it was a packed meeting and there were lot of girls there to look at. He leaned over close and whispered, “I’ll be right back”. Then I watched in disbelief as he quietly walked all the way up to the very front of the room where there was one single chair, lifted it over his head and carried it all the way back to the back of the room and sat it down for me with a smile. I have to admit it made me feel pretty special as I saw several girls giving me that, wow…look what her date did for her, look. J Hmmmm…he surprised me!  Brownie points! That was the first time he caught me off guard with his southern charm and manners.

 As we walked into the terminal this memory reflected back to me and I smiled to myself, and thought wow…I am really grateful that he is still that kind of a man today. I really appreciated his support at the airport. He knows me better than any other man on the face of God’s green earth and he knew that even though I said, “No, I’m not nervous, I’ll be fine. You don’t have to walk me in.”, what I was really saying was, “I am scared to death. How can I get out of this?”

After checking in, Don waited with me while the airline brought a wheel chair to help me to security and finally to the Frontier terminal.  Don waved good bye and away I went with my new best friend.

Because I have a “fallen” foot walking long distances at a fast pace is difficult for me. And although I had mistakenly arrived at the airport 2 and ½ hours early instead of the planned 1 ½ hr., I knew that I really had plenty of time to get to where I needed to be without any assistance, but reflecting back since the flight, I realized that the experience of “help” with a wheel chair was way more than “a wheelchair”. It was a way for my family to feel better about me traveling alone as much as it was for me to not feel alone.  It gave me someone who knew where to go and what to do while I was in the airport. I really did not need it but somehow felt so much safer with it.

Passing through security in Houston was almost a carbon copy of security in Atlanta and like I said I had my new” best friend” helping me, so with just a little fumbling about and a pat- down to my thighs here and there while spread eagle, being somewhat embarrassed, I was shortly on my way to the Frontier Airlines gates in no time at all.

I arrived at the gate and found a comfortable chair, I was going to be sitting there for an hour and half so nothing to get too excited about.  I positioned myself so I could see out on to the runway and landing area for the planes. There were clouds and rain in the sky today and I wondered if my flight might be delayed again by weather.

I sat and watched planes coming and going for a half an hour just in awe of how they seemed to take off and land so smoothly with absolutely nothing holding them up but air and power.  I was starting to feel a sense of…well; I was feeling a little better about the whole process of flying by now.  Anyway I was feeling somewhat more at ease.

I had bought a new book, “Heaven Is For Real” and began reading it then in between watching planes go and come. That, plus thinking about my daughter and the grandchildren I had just spent 2 weeks with kept me occupied for the rest of the time. How blessed I truly am to have had this time with them I thought. Before I knew it, it was time to board the plane. The airline staff started their usual announcements and I knew I would have enough time to make it to the bathroom in the terminal before it would be my turn to board. I hurried though just in case…I did not want to use the one on the plane again if I could keep from it. But just in case things went sour in flight… I had a change of clothes in my carry on. J

The plane was small, another two-seater thingy, and it was full to the brim. As I walked down the aisle watching for my row and seat number, I was hoping for a compatible sitting companion. I was not disappointed. A sweet young lady on her way to Denver for a week-long work meeting smiled as I sat next to her. Just friendly enough to make me feel comfortable but into her own reading and things as well, so I would not be bored out of my mind with endless chatter.

We chatted just briefly and then I opened my book to prepare for takeoff. “Oh”, she said. “I just finished reading that book, do you like it?” I liked her even more now that we had the same taste in books.

Don’t remember anything out of the ordinary happening after that. I mostly read and tried to keep my hands and toes from clinching. Tight fists and curled toes are not a good sign for me, they are a warning that things are no going well…and a sick headache is forthcoming. So I fought it with my mind and quiet prayers and of course, reading my new spiritual book! J

I thought I had this in the bag as the descent into Denver was as smooth as glass. The pilot announced that we would be exiting the plane shortly at gate A-17 in the Frontier terminal. I checked my ticket for my connecting gate information and smiled to myself as I took a deep breath in relief that I was already going to be in the right terminal and would only need to make it to gate 42… I knew it would be a piece of cake and I had 45 minutes to do it. J However things took a different turn as I walked into the big open loud and very busy terminal. I suddenly felt very small and alone again.

I looked down the corridor and wondered just how far gate 17 was from 42…I could see the gates were not that far apart, and I knew I could make it. But that wasn’t enough for me…No; I really don’t like feeling alone. Guess what? ALONE is my next fear to conquer. I thought about the comfort of an airport wheelchair person. Another New Best Friend was just a small request away. I walked up to the gate personnel and asked for help.

 AND…THAT WAS THE END OF THINGS GOING SMOOTHLY FOR ME IN THE DENVER AIRPORT!

The lady at the desk was very accommodating and said, “NO problem miss, just take a seat over there and someone will be by to get you shortly”. I smiled, oh boy! a new best friend shortly!! I won’t be alone for long.

She was right, in less than five minutes I was picked up by a happy, friendly lady with another passenger seated beside her, and away we went in one of those golf carts. As we drove away she would loudly request walkers to, “Please move aside” as she joked with us, I could tell to put us at ease. Wow, this is great; another great friend is taking care of me and getting me to where I need to be…I am not alone at all.  Amid all the confusion of the airport she asked where she could take me. Like I said, it was loud and very crowded but I know she heard me because she repeated it back, “I just need to go to gate A-42”. Ok, I just need to take this gentleman to baggage and then I’ll get you back there.

I should have known when we came within two gates from where I needed to be and she just kept going that I was in big trouble. But No…she had on a uniform and seem to know her way around the terminal…I am sure she is capable of getting me to the right gate. Besides the other guy was on the cart before me so maybe it was a “first come, first serve” thing and I should just be patient. After-all she did say she would bring me right back.

If I had known then what lay ahead for me I would have screamed bloody murder. “Let me off right here damn it, right now and ASAP - YOU pasted my gate!”

But no, I thought she works here…She knows what she is doing. Wrong! We swung into an elevator, the doors closed at that point, and down we went two floors and toward a big sign that said SECURITY Personnel Only!

Once we stopped she jumped out to help the gentleman who was with us and told me to sit in that wheelchair across the hall and someone would be right there to help me.

Awww! And right again she was. What a lovely and capable staff the Frontier airlines have working for them. They are all my new best friends!  Without hesitation a very kind and nice lady was wheeling me away in less than 30 seconds after I sat down. This one did not ask where I was going though?  WHY THIS WAS NOT A RED FLAG TO ME??????? I have NO idea.  

By now, I was sooo in-love with these friendly people they could have sold me an airplane timeshare to Mongolia and I would have thought it was the most wonderful idea I had ever heard of.  If I had been Cinderella herself, with birds flying along beside the cart carrying my luggage, and pink ribbons steaming from my long golden hair, I would have not believed a fairy tale was more possible than at this moment with Frontier Airlines and my wonderful new best friends! What… the heck…was I thinking?

When I finally came to my senses I was being wheeled up to the baggage claim by this sweet and lovely lady. I looked up at her smiling face and for the first time since this journey had begun I suddenly was seeing clearly.

 “Why am I at Baggage? I need to go to gate A-42”. Her face fell…no more smiles...just a cold, unbelieving stare now…, just the facts lady kind of look and tone in her voice, “Do you have a connecting flight?” “Yes”, I gasped, as if suddenly being awakened from a sweet and deep slumber. She looked at her watch as she asked what time my connection was. She was reaching for her radio when I answered back, “9:25”. “I am not even going to waste time then calling for help at this hour”, she wheeled me around and began jogging as she asked for my gate number and confirmation of departure time again.

 “I am going to miss my flight aren’t I?”  Oh My Gosh! of course this is going to happen to me.

The tone in my voice must have told her  just how much that scared me…cause she stopped the wheelchair then and looked me right in the eyes and said, “ NO, you are not, I won’t let you”

Now this lady was half my size. And here she was huffing and puffing as fast as her little legs would carry her…hauling it, down and up corridors, around curves and past crowds of people slowing only to cry out, “look out, emergency coming through!”  Holy Cow, in just two minutes time I had gone from a scene in Cinderella to a full fledge emergency in what seemed to me “Mission Impossible”.

Are you picturing this now…cause I was truly embarrassed by us flying down the corridors, hair flying…blowing straight back by the  breeze as she was doing her best to  carry us both through one of the largest airports in the world, Denver International!  At one point, she seemed so exhausted,  I thought about letting her sit down for a bit while I pushed… but I had no clue where in hell’s name we were or how to get us out of this mess.

She pushed me for what seemed like forever reassuring me several times that she would get me there before the plane took off.

All that was missing from this scene was flashing red lights and a horn blasting in my ears. And I do believe she would have used those things too if she had had access to them.

Then all at once and just as surprisingly and suddenly to me as the baggage claim had been, I found myself in front of a security gate. “Am I going through Security again?” “Yes, and we have got to hurry. Your flight will be starting to board in five minutes”, at that point we were approaching a security clearance gateman who I can only describe as the clone of Tim Conway’s “old man character” on the Carol Burnett Show. Moving at the pace of a slug… It was if he had heard we were in a hurry and just to prove he was “in control” was putting life on slow motion …I could not believe this was happening and looked up at my new best friend behind me who was at this point as white as a ghost!

Once we made it past old man Tim we started working together to get my shoes, handbag and other things on to the security belt for clearance though imaging. I dropped my carry on to the floor and fumbled with the zipper to get my lap top out. Once out I unzipped the lap top case and plopped the laptop into a basket with my shoes and handbag. My friend was helping me as she grabbed a basket for herself and started placing her things in as well. I reached down to grab my carry on, in order to get it on the imaging belt…it was then and way too late that I realized I  had forgotten to zip it closed.  As if in a nightmare I could not control, my things went flying all around.  Life seemed to be happening now in slow motion for me.  Simultaneously toys and candy I had bought as surprises for my grandchildren scattered everywhere as well as unmentionables in assorted colors, shapes and patterns.

I could feel the heat rising in my face as my poor new best friend reach down to help me. I thought I could not be more embarrassed as a complete stranger handed me my bra and I quickly stuffed in back into my carry on and literally threw it on the security belt.

 Of course I had to go through the x-ray screening twice and have my thighs patted down again, spread eagle, but at this point I would have not been surprised to hear, “miss please step over here…we will need to do a strip search”. I could not have felt more vilolated…

We finally got everything back in place with shoes on and although we were moving again I felt more than ever now we would not make it. She never stopped reassuring me though that she would get me there in time to board the plane.

We were now running again and really flying this time. She behind me ,huffing and puffing and I still trying to get my laptop back into my carry on with everything else that was now in a big jumbled up mess and sticking out everywhere from my carry on as she jerked and weaved in and out of the crowds of people we passed.

I had just gotten everything set in my carry on and zipped it up when my eyes were again taken back by surprise.... as I looked up I could see we were now approaching a train. “Are we getting on this train”, in disbelief I squeaked out! “Yes, I’ve got to get you to the right terminal”, as she started pushing me through the open doors into the already crowded to the brim airport train, a computerized voice rang out the announcement “This train is now departing”.  The doors starting closing as a woman and a young man reach out and grabbed hold of the wheel chair I was clinging to with eyes now squeed tightly closed… pulling us onto the train just in time, and the door closed behind my chair and my new best friend in a loud and scary clang.

My new best friend starting laughing then as the train pulled away in a fast jerk and she held up the handle to my wheel chair. It had come off in her hand as she had tried to push me into the train.  “No wonder” she said laughing. “Yeah, No wonder”, as I gave her a very weak courtesy smile. This was no longer even amusing to me in the slightest!

However, I was starting to wonder about my new best friend and even marveling at her determination to get me to the plane on time. Who was she…and why was she trying so hard? Was she hoping for an awesome tip or something or just a dedicated employee?  I mean she could have very easily just said, “Sorry lady, you are in hot water…and have missed your flight”.  

It wasn’t long before the train ride was over and we were running again. More corridors, elevators and crowds of people were spinning by in a blur. I was sure too much time had passed and I would miss my connection for sure. Too bad I thought, she tried so hard too. I started to imagine how long it might be before another fight would get me to Salt Lake, when suddenly the elevator doors flew open and we were running right for gate A- 42.

As the wheel chair approached the gate I could see lots of people lined up and ready to board. The wheel chair stopped then and I looked back to see her smiling. “Oh, my gosh. You got me here on time!” I stood up and gave her a big hug. “I don’t even know how to say thanks. You are amazing!”  “ I guess I can at least give you a tip”. “No we don’t accept tips” she smiled. “What?” Looking into her eyes I was now surprised by the character of another human being and very humbled by her. “You did all this just because?” “Yes, Just because I told you I would get you here” she said with a smile.

 I hugged her again and asked her name. “Donette”, she smiled. “You’re a wonderful person Donette”, I smiled back and we said good bye. Her kind and sincere concern for me just as another human being had surprised me.

I was so impressed with her and so glad to have NOT missed my flight that I did not even notice the take-off. I sat there in wonder of what I had just experienced and all I could think of was…Donette, a stranger who had literally become “my best friend”.  For 45 minutes of extreme stress she had been a perfect example of humanity to me, there in the Denver International Airport.

Just how big is that airport I wondered. She was literally running with me for almost an hour. I am going to have to google this when I land.