Into the Wild Frontier...

...Frontier Airlines, that is. Oh my goodness. Where do I even start? My poor poor mother flew from Denver to Detroit yesterday to be with me and the kids while matt is out of country. You could name her journey more like "A Series of Unfortunate Events." So grab a cup of coffee or a nice snack and get ready for the airplane story she is not soon to forget!

The flight started great. She was on her way to see me and my kids and she was ecstatic. The plane took off and she smiled to herself knowing that in just a few short hours she would be safe on the ground in Detroit, greeted by the cheers of "GRAAAAAAAAAMY!" Or would she? Fifteen minutes into the flight she was startled by a huge air pressure change. Her ears popped hard but she didn't think too much of it quite yet. A few short minutes later the oxygen masks drop from the ceiling. Could this really be? Did what she saw before her REALLY just happen? The oxygen masks just don't drop unless there is a reason. Most normal airline travelers have never even seen the masks except for in movies. She listened as the whole flight was instructed to put the masks on. Thousands of thoughts are racing through her mind as she starts to cry. Could this be the end? Will I have a chance to say goodbye? WHAT IS GOING ON????? Then it starts. The pilot takes a nose dive with the airplane to get the plane to an elevation where they can breathe if the oxygen system fails. Indeed, the cabin had lost pressure and the quick thinking pilot knows that if they don't get lower they could all pass out. Within seconds the plane drops from 30,000 ft to a mere 14,000 ft. It feels like the worst rollercoaster ride she's ever been on, like the big first hill that never ends. But then they level out at 14,000 ft. They are told by the stewardesses to prepare for an emergency landing, just in case. Then she smells smoke. By this time she is completely beside herself. She tries to call my dad, and gets through for a brief time, letting him know that the oxygen masks have come down. But then the call dropped. My dad called me to let me know what happened and of course we were all just stunned, not knowing what to do or think. I was in the van with Matt and the kids getting ready to take him to the airport for his trip! I frantically called the airline, trying to get any information they would give me. Back to my mom. Thankfully, the plane was heading back to Denver and was going to land, they all hoped. They were greeted on the tarmac by a full emergency crew. Apparently the fireman had to check the wheels to see if they were on fire. That's always reassuring. They rolled into the gate and she was the first one escorted off the plane by a fireman seeing how she is wearing a heart monitor right now. More on that later.
Of course she was shaken but thankfully was able to make all the calls to let us know that she was indeed fine. How anyone who had gone through that could get right back on another airplane I have no idea. But go she must or she couldn't get to Detroit. She did NOT want to get on a plane, but she didn't want her grandkids to be disappointed either, so off she went to find the new gate. She was at gate 26. They told her for sure, go to gate 53. So she high tailed it to gate 53 where she was told, no, no, go to gate 26 and hurry! So she catches one of those little cart men and whips it back to gate 26. They all finally reboard and she is enroute again to Detroit. The nightmare was over she hoped. This flight was as smooth as glass. She got into Detroit about 4 hours after she was scheduled to, and wouldn't you know it....no bag. Nowhere. The little turning thing had stopped turning. There were a few unclaimed bags. Hers was not there. So she filed the report. It is now 24 hours later and no bag and no communication from the airline after many calls to baggage support and customer care. It wouldn't be so bad just not having clothes. But remember the heart monitor? Her electrodes that she has to change everyday are in the bag. Will the saga end???

In other news, I had the hardest conversation as a mother last night. Gabe had had a rough night going to bed so the usual discipline was taken. However, after going back and forth and me having to toe the line harder and harder, he finally through tears says, "Mom...it just seems like I should have never been born." My heart BREAKS and Gabe and I talked for about 30 minutes about his behavior and how he was feeling. Ugh. I hope the saying is true that kids who have a hard time in their early years have great teenage years. God, I need Your help!!!!!!