I just wanted to update you all about my "trip" I was telling you all about! I followed your fantastic ideas on where to get info-thank you! But this is the letter I sent out to friends and family-read on and hopefully enjoy!(yes, it's ok to laugh at my expense........)
Hello friends, family and fans of the "get Jenny the heck outta town" club.
Many of you were aware of or part of my family's plan to send Jeff and I on a cruise down the Mexican Riviera, leaving this morning. I had planned on sending a cyber letter to you all from aboard the Carnival Pride this afternoon. You know, poolside with Jeff, hat and sunglasses on, dark brown cabana boys flirtatiously serving "tapas", pina colada in hand, tapping my toes to the music of the colorful reggae band, watching the sun set on the wide open horizon, and looking forward to 7 more glorious days of the same. This was the cruise hosted by Lowen and Navarro. They are the music songwriters/artists of which I had met Eric Lowen online-he was diagnosed with ALS in 2004 and continues to perform and amaze.
I have been bragging about how competent I have become at travel plans-I had planned for EVERYTHING I said. Crossed all my t's and dotted every i. I ran into a bump on Wednesday 4 days before departure day when ALSA of LA had informed me that the powerchair I had planned to borrow to use while on the cruise, (eliminating the issue of traveling with my own chair) was no longer an option. At first thinking of blowing a gasket, I calmed down, took a breath, decided to have some faith, and made the decision to travel with my own powerchair. I quickly slammed into reverse, and started over.
Searched until I found a cab that would handle both my chair and I, get us to the airport at 4:am Sunday morning, and return us home the following week-CHECK. Called the airlines several times until I was completely assured that they understood how important the handling and safety of my chair was to my mobility, That I could drive it to the door of the plane, and rest assured that it would transfer with me to any connecting flights and that they could and would do the job safely-CHECK. Locate and reserve a shuttle that could again take, Jeff my chair and I from LAX to the ship, and again when it was time to come home- CHECK. Researched travel advice from experienced traveling PALS. Researched and printed ADA and FAA info about the rights of the disabled during travel. Friday night-All paperwork for the cruise filled out, all documentation for both of us prepared and bundled, all prior checkins available to be done by computer done. Suitcases packed, luggage tags filled and attached, power chair charger, tools, manual packed-yes, on Friday. Went back and reconfirmed pick up and delivery times. Like I said-sounds like all t's and i's right? Really not a bad accomplishment for anyone let alone a half person like me! Jeff likes to think I'm a bit overly thorough but even he thanked me Friday for all of my work on the details.
OK, so this is how it played out. Great relaxing day on Saturday. Early to bed. Said my prayers-asked in particular for good travel weather. (Which we did have by the way-thank you God) Up at 3:00 am. Cab arrives 1/2 hour early @ 3:30 am, because he knows how important this is to us.
$50.00 had us arriving at the airport at 4:30 am. Beautiful morning-clear dry roads for the first time in weeks,clear sky, blue and sun finally making an appearance. Went to the checkin and stated that I did not want to check my powerchair with my luggage as they preferred-no problem-(thank God we didn't). Security-piece of cake. Preboarding and getting me comfortable-a breeze. Watching them lower my chair and get it stowed safely, peace of mind. Believing we had done it and were on our way out of snow buried Spokane for a much needed warm week of fun, priceless.
This would be where the alarm would ring to wake you from your sweet dream. Instead it was the voice of the pilot telling us that they needed a mechanic to check out a "light" indicating a problem. Quickly evolved to the "light" needing a part, and a crew to replace it-thus putting us in and out of Seattle, into LAX, and shuttled to Long Beach to embark at the soonest 4-5. About an hour after loading had been cut off and the Pride had sailed into the setting sun. They removed us all from the plane.
After several calls to the cruiseline to make sure they were all answered the same, that yes indeed the ship WOULD be gone by the time we got there, we decided to gather our things, recall the cab, pay another $50.00 and head home to our big giant igloo. At 11:30, after the cab had returned, and Jeff had spent an hour running wildly through the airport looking for our luggage, which we were assured was somewhere-no longer on the plane, we got in the cab and headed home-without our luggage.
So- now Lisa has begun the claim process, and we can only hope that this was merely a practice run for the real deal at another time! If nothing else, I see it as $100.00 "training" to pass on to my comrade PALS in "HOW TO PRETEND TO TRAVEL WITH ALS"!
Nonetheless, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your contributions, efforts and prayers! I will do all that I can to eventually bring this trip to fruition. And oh, the good news? Our luggage actually made it to LAX. In time to make the cruise. They were loaded on the plane that left before we boarded! For real! Thank you again and love to you all~ Jeff and Jenny
) and a complete loss of energy again.
