Happy day

As you may have noticed, I haven't felt a striking need to comment on the events that happen in my life on a regular basis. No resolutions for the new year made their way to nerdygirl.com, no holiday wishes either. It's not for lack of composing blog posts in my head periodically, or because I don't wish you all well. There's just been a general lack of oomph where blogging is concerned. My motivation and attention have been focused elsewhere.

But I don't want the inauguration of Barack Obama to pass by without making mention of it. Perhaps history will show me to be something of a rube, but I confess that I am caught up in the hope and optimism of the occasion. I can't wait to see what happens next.

2 comments | link

Captain Bob saves the day

Stepping off the plane in Palm Springs was surreal. I had a window seat, so while we flew in, it was possible to tell just how much Palm Springs shouldn't be there. Mile after mile of desert eventually gives way to golf courses and greenery. It looks like a make believe town built by a shut-in retiree with nothing to do but whittle people and tiny golf clubs out of twigs. But eventually Ransom and I were on firm ground, stepping out into balmy weather and wondering what to do next. Our wool sweaters and winter coats seemed a bit cumbersome, but then we hadn't intended to ever go to Palm Springs.

It was New Year's Eve, and the airport music was still on its Christmas rotation. How they ever thought "Winter Wonderland" was appropriate to Palm Springs will forever perplex me. Having left the snowy streets of Portland behind us, it was clear we'd just stepped into a perfect summer day. It made me think of my sister listening Christmas to music in July.

The thing is, we were supposed to be in Sacramento, which was cold and wintry. After attempting to land twice, however, the crew gave up because of the incredibly thick fog. They took us on to the plane's next destination, which happened to be Palm Springs. I called or texted my peeps in Chico to let them know about the delay, thinking we'd probably get back to Sacramento in the next three or four hours. Boy was that wishful thinking!

The flight going back to Sacramento was full. Flying into San Francisco would give us a layover of three hours, at least double our drive to Chico, and cost more money (I was quoted $500 to pick up a car in San Francisco and drop it off in Sacramento). Since we didn't have a lot of time to make up our minds as far as what to do next, we picked what seemed like the most reasonable option: Palm Springs to Seattle, and then back to Sacramento. This is how we ended up further away from our destination 11 hours into our trip than we were when we left the house.

Just before we boarded the plane in Seattle, we were warned of the fog in Sacramento and told that we might be diverted to Reno. We got on the plane anyhow, although it was awfully tempting to just head back to Portland and bag the whole trip. After everyone was settled in their seats and the overhead compartments were closed, the crew did their spiel and announced that Captain Bob Somethingorother was in charge of our flight. I turned to Ransom and told him I had a good feeling about Captain Bob. "Captain Bob will get us there. I just know he will!"

My faith was not in vain. Captain Bob did what nobody else had been able to do all day: he got us to Sacramento! (And not Reno!) The landing was dicey, to be sure. We were seated about five seats behind the wing and there were times when it disappeared completely in the fog. But Captain Bob boldly powered through. When the plane landed, people cheered, and the First Mate announced that a lesser pilot would not have been able to pull off that landing. Thank you, Captain Bob!

8 comments | link