Last week I got to fly and see my sister in Phoenix for free!  Free doesn’t always mean easy or super convenient however.  It was totally worth it, but the trip home was arduous, boring, frustrating, and long.  My sis and I looked at the flights on the Internet and saw they were all full, however sometimes people sleep through their alarms or miss flights so there’s hope of getting on as a standby, especially if you’re early to the gate.  It’s spring break and there were teens, kids, families, and college kids everywhere.  I signed in and didn’t get on, I went to the next gate for the next flight and didn’t get on, I walked quickly to the next gate and signed in but it looked bleak so I left and went to the 4th gate/flight and signed in.  I sat for a moment eating my cinnamon roll (hey, might as well eat something yummy while I wait right?).  I thought I’d better visit the restroom before it got too close to boarding time but when in the restroom heard my name over the loud speaker, “Michele Klotz come to gate C4 to board your flight.”  That was the 3rd flight I thought I missed!  And it’s clear on the other end of this concourse!!  I grabbed my two bags and big diet coke and started all-out sprinting, down the moving sidewalks, past slow-movers and standers, “excuse me, pardon me” I said breathlessly while silently praying God would help me not collapse before I got there.  I made it, and presented my boarding pass while grasping the counter and bending over – my heart pounding.   “I’m on a flight!” I thought as I happily made my way to a seat between two large people.  When you fly standby and are the last on full flights, you get the squished-in the-middle seats.  “That’s okay” I thought, “at least I’m outta here.”  The flight was smooth and uneventful.  As I walked out of the jet way into the airport I looked up at the departure signs for some idea of where to race next and try for a flight.  Uh oh.   Continue reading →