Travels with a Chiweenie

We have no pics from today’s mishaps, as the journey started out rocky and then landed ashore with a new flight for tomorrow.  Good news, my luggage will be in NYC tonight…I and Friday, however, will not.

This was all my fault. Frida wouldn’t poop this morning before we left, and it I was rattled.

Thoughts become things…and I thought it last night…I thought…what if I forget something? What if I miss the plane, what if Friday can’t get on? What if Frida doesn’t poop?

Frida absolutely could get on – but didn’t because her mom lost her way. Let’s just talk about traveling on the day after Easter…on the first flight time out of town…bad move. We rolled up 2 hours prior and it was a mob scene.

Burned 15 minutes in the wrong line…burn another 15 minutes in a line that was never going to get us to the gate on time, moved to another line – which was meant for wheelchair folks…but was an invitation by an American Airline agent it was okay to que into. THEN just one hour before the plane is to leave and moments before I will reach the counter to see if Frida can fly with me (which I thought was going to be the biggest struggle…HA), an American Airline person starts yelling “you can’t be here, dogs have to go there!” “There” was a dreadful, non-moving line that a different American Airline person said we didn’t have to stand in…so we moved…waited for 20 minutes…to hopefully make it on the plane. A family behind me, with a dog and multiple children also resisted…we stood as a united front and Frida and her 60-dollar health certificate, which wasn’t checked, nor was she actually inspected.. I just paid her ticket and an additional 100 dollars because my bag was overweight. Do you know that moment of stress where you can’t conceive of solving a problem by simply opening a suitcase and finding 3lbs to put in your already loaded 35lb backpack? I just couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t stop and take time to open an already ridiculous packed suitcase to determine – what will be 3lbs of something! My dog needs to poop, and I don’t have time to spend on this, but I do have money…and handed her my credit card.

So we made our way to the poop station. Frida sniffed a number of “emails” as I like to call it when dogs smell all sorts of things on their walks, but to no avail…pee…no poop – burned 15 minutes there.

Surprisingly, TSA was pretty quiet.

I paid for CLEAR this winter…I can plow thru TSA – all will be well – I have 40 minutes to the gate.

But here is the thing, as I approached TSA…I realized – I had left my phone at home. 40 minutes…I needed my phone…because how do we deal with life without a phone, gosh, what would I have done If I realized this on the plane…I only know my dad and aunt’s number by memorized by heart and they barely have the internet….

Rush home with my friend to get phone,

Make it to TSA with 18 minutes to spare.

You only need 15 and my gate was around the corner…We will make it.

Accept, when you travel with a dog, you have to go through security the old school way they have to swab your hand. You know what happens then? YOU WILL HAVE TO BE EXAMINED.

Next thing I know – I am being patted down by a very lovely lady…trying to alert me how she will need to feel my buttocks, inner thigh and breasts.

I didn’t care – strip me…search me…just please hurry.

I knew time had passed too far for me to make the plane – I just leaned in and let the inspection happen. I didn’t even feel the fondling that took place – fondling I haven’t felt for over a hear, and it might have been nice…I just looked at Frida.

She had to be placed in her carrier for this inspection. She was a gem, but clearly confused. When I had to rescheduled this failed flight attempt, she was my comfort. She didn’t realize we missed the flight; she just knew she was safe and loved.

I guess, in the end, that is what is important. We all make mistakes, but if we can give and receive love – we can get through. So tomorrow morning, we will try again.

Here’s to day two…