If you follow me on Twitter you already know we had a crazy day today. I sent so many text messages updating Troy and my mom and Brenda and Dana & Twitter on our status that my phone had almost run out of power by the time the day’s travels were over. The most pertinent part, I think, is this:

Today started out with me being uncharacteristically on time. All the bags were packed and the van loaded for the airport a whole half-hour early. Things started to go a bit haywire when Brenda dropped us off at the airport. I got distracted by one of the gate-check employees helping me with the suitcase and forgot to get Annalie’s booster seat.

I didn’t notice at first. I gate-checked our one large suitcase and it was over by 6 pounds. The baggage handler (who was a very nice guy) helped me figure out that I could remove my crocheting bag (easy to carry, I just had to leave the scissors and hooks in the checked bag) and that put it close enough to 50 pounds. Then I found out our flight was delayed by an hour which was actually good news because it meant we got to eat lunch. We stopped at McD’s and ordered our food and as we were sitting down with our Happy Meals I realized we were missing the booster seat. Acckk!

I called Brenda and left her a voicemail, then ate my lunch. The fries were perfectly crisp and hot and salty in that way that only McDonald’s fries can be. That cheered me up immensely and I calmed down about the booster. I realized that since we were catching a shuttle to the hotel in North Carolina, I probably wouldn’t need a booster right away anyway, and Dana could take us to Target or something to get one Saturday before we picked up our rental car. (Did I mention that by renting a car at 2pm instead of 12am I saved myself $400? I did. I was so relieved when I figured that one out.) Luckily those booster seats aren’t too expensive, and it might be nice to have an extra one on hand.

We finished our lunch, went through security and wandered over to our gate. Annalie got out her Leapster with the new game Gramaw bought her specially for this trip, and I pulled out the print-out of the hotel reservation. I was just calling to confirm that they didn’t require carseats on the shuttle, but instead was given the unpleasant news that by the time our flight landed at 12:15, the shuttle wouldn’t be running. I was rather ticked off, as their website had not said anything about the shuttle service ending at midnight. And a taxi, rightly so, would probably require a booster seat.

So I called Dana and explained the situation, asking apologetically if she’d be able to come pick us up at the airport and take us to the hotel. Dana assured me that was no big deal, she’d be happy to. Then she said, “I wanted to tell you something anyway…” Turns out Annalie’s cousin Brett had been throwing up the night before. He’d been sick earlier in the week, and they had thought and hoped he was over it, but apparently not. I don’t want Annalie to get sick, and we don’t want to get all the other kids we’re going to see on the rest of our trip sick, so we might not get to see much of Brett or hang out at their house much this weekend. Phooey.

Brenda called me back right after that. The first thing she said was, “So do I need to bring you the booster?” She was willing to bring it to me, but by that time I felt like I had the situation in hand. Plus by the time she got there we wouldn’t have had time to go back out to the curb, then come back in and go through security before our flight boarded. So I thanked her and told her she was off the hook. Then I bought a vanilla latte from the Starbucks conveniently located next to our gate (though it wouldn’t give me the Gold Card discount; it annoys me that Sbuxes in airports and Targets can’t give me a discount) and relaxed.

Once we boarded the plane, we sat there waiting to taxi to the runway for what seemed like forever. Annalie, in what was amazingly her only grouchy period of the entire day, repeatedly complained that she was thirsty. I reminded her that as soon as the flight was in the air they’d be coming around to offer us drinks. Finally the flight took off, an hour and a half later than scheduled.

We were still ascending when I noticed flight attendants scurrying up the aisle towards the cockpit. Then I saw one or two passengers get up and peer out a window over the right wing. Then a flight attendant came on the PA and said, “We’re not trying to keep anyone in the dark here, we believe knowledge is power, so let me explain what’s going on. Apparently a piece of metal came off the wing shortly after take-off…” She went on to explain that the first officer had looked at it and assessed the situation, and he and the pilot were talking to ground control and figuring out what to do.

Craaaaaap. While Annalie colored happily in her new art book, I spent the next ten minutes praying silently, working on a sudoku in the magazine, and being very thankful that Annalie was young enough to not really pay attention to the announcements or to the idiots behind us joking loudly about the plane falling out of the sky and crashing. I was certain it wasn’t going to be anything serious—dunno why, I just was—but I don’t want Annalie to develop a fear of flying! She already refuses to go near the ocean because she’s afraid of waves and sharks. If she were afraid of flying that would make our peripatetic lives extremely difficult. Too smart for her own good, that kid.

Fortunately, before I gave in to the urge to turn around and disrespectfully tell the gray-haired jokesters behind us to shut up, the pilot addressed us. He told us that while they were certain the damage was not structural and would not hinder the plane’s ability to fly, they were going to turn around and land the plane in Los Angeles where it could be repaired.

I can’t say I was surprised. It just seemed like the next natural step, the way my day had gone. It wasn’t my idea of a good time, extending an already-long travel day with a 5-year-old by a few hours, but it couldn’t be helped. I explained to Annalie was what going on, and her first question was, “But are they going to come around and give us drinks?” She was bummed to hear that they wouldn’t. I promised her that as soon as we were off the plane we could find a drinking fountain or buy her a bottled water.

We were sitting in the second-to-last row, and then the people behind us decided their need to get off the plane was greater than ours so they shoved their way ahead before I could step out of my row. But that was okay. We weren’t in a hurry.

As we walked up the jetway, I told Annalie that we were lucky we didn’t have anywhere particular to be. (Well, hotel reservations and family to visit, yes; important meetings or a wedding to attend, no.) She replied, “Yeah! This is kind of like an adventure, just me and you! I like going on adventures with you, Mom.” I always love my kid, of course, but there are moments when I seriously want to squeeze the stuffing out of her, she’s so adorable. That was one of those moments.

We found a shop and bought a $2.39 bottle of water (out of which Annalie took exactly three sips before declaring her thirst quenched). As I was waiting to pay, Annalie was eyeing a stack of what looked like paper dolls sitting on the counter. The cashier saw Annalie eyeling them and told her to take as many as she wanted. So Annalie took two. So while I stood in several lines over the next couple of hours, Annalie spent most of the time sitting in a nearby chair, playing with paper cut-outs of Nancy Grace. I think they were supposed to be bookmarks advertising her show or something. I just thought it was hilarious. And hey, they kept her entertained!

While we were standing in a really long line to get new boarding passes for the replacement flight from LAX to Dallas, I wondered if I really wanted to go to Dallas that night, if it might not be easier to just get a hotel in L.A. and get on a flight the next morning. I ended up calling the American Airlines 1-800 number and talking to a fantastic customer service rep named Wally Brooks in Tucson, Arizona. I’m mentioning his name here because I want to remember it so I can send a glowing email of commendation to his boss. Wally listened to my concerns about traveling with a 5-year-old, helped me figure out my options, gave me sound advice, answered my questions, and booked my flight for me. He treated me like a real person and acted like one too, even chatting with me about how he’d experienced the same travel delays the previous weekend when he’d been on a trip to Chicago. Wally, you rocked, and you made a difficult day that much easier for at least two travelers. Thank you!

So when I got to the head of the line, which I have to say took much less time than I expected, I just had to pick up our boarding passes for both flights. We boarded the plane about three minutes later, leaving me just enough time to call Dana and tell her what was going on.

After we were settled on the plane I called the hotel in North Carolina to ask about cancelling our reservation for that night. The woman I spoke to explained that since I’d made the reservation through Expedia, I had to contact them. I did so, and was told that the cancellation policy meant they would charge me for one night. I clarified that I only wanted to cancel one night, not the whole reservation. I was told yes, that they would charge me one night for the cancellation and then one night for the night I was staying there. Even though it was a plane’s mechanical problem that caused me to miss the cancellation deadline? Yep, even then. It was time for me to turn off my phone so I didn’t bother arguing. But GRRR. I’ve been an Expedia customer for years but if they won’t budge on this I might not be such a loyal customer anymore. I understand that rules are rules, but…a piece of my airplane fell out of the sky! Gimme a break!

Anyway. The flight was uneventful, and we finally got some food, thank goodness. We didn’t have a chance to grab anything at LAX because of all the waiting in line we had to do, and we were hungry. Annalie had the cheese snack (cheese, crackers, raisins, mixed nuts) and I had a really yummy prepackaged roast beef sandwich from Boston Market. How hungry was I? The sandwich had mayonnaise on it and I didn’t even care. In fact, I thought it was delicious. Anyone who knows me is saying to themselves right now, “Wow, Bethany must have been REALLY hungry.” I hate mayonnaise on sandwiches normally. What can I say, it was an unusual day all around.

When we landed in Dallas-Fort Worth it was almost midnight. We stood in line to get our itinerary and hotel vouchers, and again, props to American for their quick and efficient handling of a long line. We headed out to catch the hotel shuttle and didn’t have to wait long. We even managed to get seats despite how packed it was.

As we drove along, Annalie turned and kneeled on the seat, resting her forehead on the window and looking out the window. I put my arm around her waist to steady her and pressed a kiss on the side of her head. Then I put my mouth close to her ear and said softly, “Annalie, I am very proud of you. Even though we had a long day, and nothing went the way it was supposed, and we had to stand in a lot of lines, you were so patient and good all day long. Thank you, babe.”

She smiled that little half-smile of pride she does when someone praises her, and replied, “Well, sometimes things go wrong and there are things you don’t wanna do, but you just hafta do them anyway. And then you have a better day then you thought you would!” When did she get so wise!?

We’re at a hotel now. I showered and rinsed out my underthings in the sink, and am wearing a sheet wrapped around me for a nightgown. Annalie’s fast asleep, and I should be too. Tomorrow morning we’re boarding a flight for North Carolina. Wish us luck.