Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, Jill and I began our vacation and journey to Hawaii to see our son, daughter-in-law, grandson and our new granddaughter. I know you are already feeling sorry for me having to go to Hawaii and all that, but it is just the burden I must bear.
The trip started out great. We got to the airport in Tulsa with no problem. Went to the kiosk, loaded the boarding passes to phone, printed bag check tag, and checked bag at the gate. The next obstacle was getting through security which has always been a struggle, but even that went well (not a hitch). We even gate checked our carry on at no charge. We boarded the plane with not crisis or any events. The flight left on time and arrived on time, and that is when the journey turned into an adventure!
Once we made it to the gate in Dallas we waited for the plane’s door to open, so we could very quickly make it to our connecting flight to Honolulu. And we waited, and waited, and waited a little longer. The pilot came over the intercom and informed us the door was stuck…shut…and they couldn’t get it open. We were notified that maintenance was on the way.
Fifteen minutes later the door was opened, and we were able to deplane and figure out the connecting flight was on the other side of the airport, and we were going to have to do doubletime to make it to our connection.
In the midst of finding the right Skylink tram, we were notified of a gate change. No problem, same terminal, just different gate. We finally made it and figured they would be boarding the first or second group (we were group 6). But, then an announcement came over the PA and said that our flight had not only changed gates but was delayed. And… another gate change.
We then were notified that our delay was because the plane we were to take was swapped for a plane that was to go to Korea. It had too much fuel for a flight to Honolulu. Because of this the plane was too heavy, and fuel had to be siphoned off (the mental pictures of guys with garden hoses on the wing siphoning fuel into gas cans just flooded my mind).
Well, that only took about 45 minutes. The being rushed to make connecting flight now turned into about an hour delay. But, finally, the all clear was given and we were on the plane. And we just thought we were going to leave. but no way.
Now the delay was due to fuel dripping out of a pipe off the manifold on the left engine. It was no danger we were told, but they had to get it stopped (or change planes). Once again, maintenance was called. We were apprised of the progress (or lack of). After another 30-40 minutes we were in the air!
The flight was only 7½ hours and very uneventful (for which I am grateful). But when you think of any event in a plane over the ocean, it can’t be good and uneventful is always welcome. I watched a couple of movies, took a short nap, and considered what the Honolulu airport was going to be. If Dallas was that eventful I don’t know if I even want to know what might happen in Honolulu.
We got off the plane, made it to baggage claim, and even got all our luggage. We left there, walked down the road and across the street to the rental car business. Went right to the counter, did all the paperwork, signed my name, and paid the bill. They said to go downstairs and pick up the car in spot 605, and take off (I know, too easy right?). But that is just what we did. We loaded the luggage in the trunk of the 2025 Kia Soul and took off.
All total, we were only 1½ hours behind schedule. We met our son and his family for some supper (should have been a late lunch) and got on the way. Being behind schedule put us right in the midst of RUSH HOUR! There are 1.5 million people on all the Hawaiian Islands and one million of them live on Oahu with three fourths of them going the same direction as me.
This 30 minute trip ended up taking over an hour. This delay combined with the previous delay did cost me my beach therapy on Tuesday. I was not happy about that…at all. But on the way home, the sun had begun to set. And let me tell you something – the sunsets on the ocean are drop dead gorgeous! That night was no different. Had I been on time, I would have missed being at the right place, at the right time to see a perfect sunset! It kind of made all those delays worthwhile!
All I wanted to do was hurry to get to do what I wanted to do, and God said to just wait on Him…“Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10) Thanks for the journey, the view and reminder Lord.
Bro. Tim
