At the end of July we flew to CT for a family reunion. Our flight out was quite adventurous. We left work a few hours early and headed to the airport. Upon arrival at the airport, the pull handle on Jason's suitcase broke off. We arrived to our gate with plenty of time to spare. We discovered that our flight was running late. Due to the first flight running late, we would miss our connecting flight. We went to the counter and waited for 15 minutes for the agent to help the one person in front of us. I do not get why it takes so long to rearrange things. One would think with 2011 technology, things would move along faster. Anyways, our flight was supposed to get in around 9:20ish and they could get us on a connecting flight with a different airline leaving at 10:00. Sure, no problem.
We land in O'Hare about 9:25. Jason waits for our bags that we had side check due to flying on a jumper plane. I got on ahead so I can find out what gate we need to get to. I call Jason and let him know where to go. I was booking it through the airport. I eventually get the gate when we are supposed to be boarding, but the gate is full. I ask someone what is going on. They say the plane had just arrived. Okay, no problem. Gives us a chance to catch our breath. Our boarding time keeps on getting pushed back and there is no communication from the airline; they just simply push the time back and back. We find out they are waiting on a new crew because the previous crew were maxed out on time. Jason and I decide to eat dinner (because it is after 10 at night). The only thing that is opened is McDonald's. I go to order our food while Jason waits with the bags at a table. I am the only customer there and I have to wait several minutes to order food while employees AND shift manager chit chat. Excuse me if I would like to order some food so that you can have a job. I did not know I was such an inconvenience.
We eventually get our food, but I have to ask for our drinks. Jason ordered a 20 piece chicken nugget and they handed me three things of sauce. I asked for more sauce, and the guy told me it would be $0.59 each. I said, "You only three sauces for a 20 piece?!" His response was simply, "Yes." I was so irked.
After we are done eating we go back to the gate. The new crew eventually arrives. We have been given the okay to board, and as soon as they call for first-class passengers to board, lightening lights up the sky and you can tell it is not going to let up. Now it was just a waiting game. Jason went and got us each a doughnut. At this point, we release we will be stranded for the night. Even if the flight can take off, it will be too late to pick up our rental car in CT. At 12:30, Jason goes to the ticket counter to discuss our options. He discovers that they will not decide until 3:00 AM to for sure cancel the flight. I had told Jason that I would rather have 4 good hours of sleep in a hotel that 5 hours of sleep in the airport. Jason gets us a hotel room and gets us booked on the first flight out in the morning.
We get to the hotel room, get checked in, we ask what time the first shuttle leaves in the morning and we are told 6. This will have to do. Our flight leaves 7:50 so we were hoping to be at the airport before 6, plus we still needed to get our actual tickets because we were just given vouchers since the morning flight was with a different airline. We show up in the lobby of the hotel at 5:55. The front desk clerk (the same one that checked us in just a few hours before) asks us if we are checking out. We say we are there the get on the shuttle. He informs us that the shuttle has already left, "You were not on the list." I am thinking in my head, "We did not know we needed to be on a list; of course we needed the shuttle, why else would we have asked you about it?!" The clerk calls for a taxi to come pick us up on their dollar. I noticed the night before when we checked in, that they have a continental breakfast starting at 6 so I thought, perfect, I can go get something to eat while we wait. For those of you who do not know me too well, I am a big morning eater. I love breakfast. When I was little, I would wake up in the morning, walk into my parents' room and say, "Breakfast Mom."At this point it is 6:15ish and there is NO food out. Eventually I see a worker slowly come out from the back, plug in her cell phone. I am eventually able to grab a piece of toast before the taxi arrives. We get to the airport after 7, then have to wait in a long line to have an agent get us our tickets. In the past, Jason and I are not ones to get to the airport hours before take off, but pushing it that close was a little too much for me.
Long story short (although this is already really long), we eventually make it to Hartford with no more bumps. We did have some trouble with picking up our rental car-shocking, we always do. Maybe that has to do with our marriage starting out with a rental car since Jason's car engine blow on the way to the temple on our wedding day.
While we were in Connecticut, we had a fabulous time seeing people we had not seen in awhile, and Jason and I both meeting family members for the first time. While there we were able to visit Jason's grandfather's (Edward C. Harding) burial site.
At the actual family reunion, we played a big game of croquet. Here is Jason with his "Fart Monster" cup that I believe one of his cousin's made for him. He is a handsome stud though.
Cousin Jill, Sister Jessica, Cousin Caitlyn, and Sister Jennifer
Jennifer with her boyfriend Kenny. They are a fun couple.
Cousin Sarah with boyfriend Dayton, Jason and I, Kenny and Jennifer, Jessica, Jill, and Caitlyn
Jason with his sisters and his mom, Alison
All the cousins minus one on this side.
And my handsome hubby standing next to a sweet car on the day we left.
Thanks Claudia and John for such a wonderful time. And a special thanks to Jason's former stepdad who provided a way for us to even go on this trip.
