Friday 2-22-13
So my vaccinations included a series of three shots for Hepatitis A & B. I had the first one a month ago and I needed to get my second one on Monday, but the place called and had to reschedule it to last night. Well, my memory is crap, so while I was scrambling for all the last minute packing that needed to be done, I realized I had forgotten to go get my shot! I left a message for the clinic place to see if I could get in first thing this morning…then the ice started coming down. Luckily the clinic came through and called me early to get me in and I got my shot, so off to the airport I went.
I get to the airport and walk in the Delta doors and I see a HUGE line of all these military guys. So I think wow, maybe 2 hours early wasn’t enough. As I walk to the back of the line, I see my cousin Alan McNeal directing the military guys. I say hello and strike up a conversation (he doesn’t recognize me) and after a few minutes he realizes, there is no way in hell this old fat guy can be deploying anywhere (not sure where they were going) and he asks me where I’m headed and I say Detroit and he tells me I’m in the wrong line…the Delta counter is on the other side! Now that line is very short. :) Thanks for helping me out Alan!
So, because I can’t really take 2 checkin bags, my carry on’s are packed to the gills. And sure enough, the little flight to Detroit doesn’t have room for my size bags. Not a big deal, except I’ve packed them so tightly and expertly, that it’s difficult to extricate just the pieces of equipment I need to use on the flight. It’s a tight flight and I have a HUGE guy across the aisle…he looks (and smells) homeless. Ugh.
I arrive in Detroit and the Delta guy in Indy had told me when I get on Lufthansa in Detroit, it’s in a different terminal and the gate people will direct me. He also said they will transfer my bag for me so I won’t have to pick it up and tote it all the way to the other terminal. First thing I do is ask the gate people where to go…they’ve never heard of Lufthansa, much less another terminal. Luckily they were able to dig up a lady who seems to remember back in the old days that there is a shuttle that goes to this other terminal. She gives me very detailed directions (go to where they big hotel used to be and turn left or right) and so off I go. After studying some maps and starting to worry, I cross my fingers and go to the ground transportation where I see a sign for a terminal to terminal shuttle. While waiting in line I verify with a couple that this is the right bus (they have been looking for an hour) and we all get to the correct terminal, where I have to check in (and go through security) AGAIN!
At this point I find out that Lufthansa does not have my bag. I start to panic, but apparently the guy in Indy was good enough to give me all the luggage codes, so they can route my bag to the plane. I now get in line for security. In Indy I sailed through, in Detroit my bad full of chocolate bars looks like a bag full of C-4 on the security machine. They check it carefully. They were actually very friendly and nice, so I can’t complain.
I am now typing this at CHAMPPS next to my terminal and I have approximate 90 minutes until my next flight. Once I get on that one, I will only be available via email and Facebook. I hope to have some pictures in future updates.