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The good news is that the weather has turned very warm here in Colorado. Yesterday and today the temperature has been in the sixties. We actually took down a few of the outdoor Christmas decorations, but only those we could reach without touching snow.

More good news is that I've actually recovered from my trip home to Halifax, and it only took a week. Certainly it is difficult to see my mother in this state, but honestly I think most of the issue is handling a toddler on twelve-hour (door-to-door) plane trips with three-hour time zone changes. It took Olivia two days to convert going East, but on arriving back home in the West she was still waking up at four-thirty in the morning four days later. Plus Olivia just doesn't sleep well anywhere but in her own bed. If I do go to Halifax again, I'll try to do it without children (yeah, like that could happen. I can't go to see my OBGYN without at least one kid).

Anyway, when we arrived, my Mom had an infection that came with a fever. That first day she barely spoke, and even then only in response to repeated questioning ("Does your head hurt? Does your tummy hurt?"). She looked at me that day for the first time in months and, though I'm secretly sure she knew who I was and was happy I was there, she showed no recognition or emotion. That was tough. The palliative care nurse came immediately and soon Mom was on some very effective antibiotics, so by the next night she could carry on a bit of a conversation and even laughed at some jokes. However, she wasn't really better until the day after I left, so I do feel a bit ripped off. But I also feel like we had one moment where we connected, and possibly two, and that did make the trip worthwhile.

That's saying a lot, actually, since the actual traveling part of the trip was horrible.*

I bought my ticket online. There is nowhere online to declare that you are bringing a "lapchild" with you; I were instructed to inform the check-in agent. But I guess no one actually told the website writers that there are no check-in agents anymore. Just a bank of computer screens and some bag handlers that know nothing but how to strap stickers on luggage. After I had checked myself in I managed to track down someone who was willing to take on the task of issuing Olivia a boarding pass, but she admitted she'd never done such a thing before and that it might take some time.  No problem; I had a full forty-five minutes before the plane left. Well, she managed to eat up thirty of those minutes before Olivia and I could be on our way. As you can imagine, it was enormously frustrating and involved not only an additional $12 fee but the accidental issuing of four lapchildren, three of which had to be deleted before I could leave.

So Olivia and I had to RUN for the plane. Full speed through the airport, Olivia in her stroller with bags hanging from the handles, through security (where we got a hard time about the apparently gel-like raisins and Gerber Fruit Snacks we brought), on the train, and up to the gate, where I heard the announcement, "This is the final call for Katherine." So I arrive at the gate just in time, sweaty and out of breath, boarding passes in hand, just to be treated rudely by each and every airline employee I come in contact with until I take my seat. Because obviously this must be my fault.

So I plopped down, breathless, in our middle seat with bags and Olivia on my lap and Olivia promptly burst into tears.

I am so glad to be home.

*There's more than just that one story, actually. We arrived in Halifax without the car seat bag and had to use a loaner (not too bad; we even got the same model). Then on the way home we couldn't take milk through security (of course), but didn't expect to find that milk was not sold in the terminal on the other side. And then the plane we rode on was too small for refrigerated products. And then, racing from gate to gate in DC with only fifteen minutes to spare, I stopped at Wendy's for a take-out lunch and Wendy's, that day, happened to be OUT OF MILK. Finally, our car seat bag did arrive in Denver, but it was ripped to shreds. The airline is replacing it.

Comments

[Holly Jo]

There is absolutely nothing worse than traveling with a small child - from sleep habits to airplane rides. It is unpleasant. Used to dread flying - now I look forward to the day when I can fly without children. 4 to 5 hours of required knitting time. :)

I'm sorry about your Mom.

[Star]

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