Getting to the Bahamas

Saturday evening we left LAX about an hour and fifteen minutes late. Sitting on the tarmac awaiting baggage to be loaded is what the flight crew kept sharing with us. Sounded like it's an outside firm that handles that part of the journey so their hands were tied, so to speak. They were told tonight's crew was short-staffed. So we waited. Without a device. The whole week before this, I had told Ian that the first plane was for sleep. The second plane he could use a device. My breathing was becoming more shallow as I read Cat In The Hat for the umpteenth time. I wondered if we would make our connection in Vancouver. Our layover was only 2 hours so I knew it would be tight when we finally lifted off an hour and thirty minutes late.

In the air, he kept asking for a device but I really believe he knew I was serious. Luckily he didn't push into hitting me, wailing or bending my fingers back. At least this time. Overall, this flight was much less stressful than prior flights when I actually had Mike there to back me up. Thank goodness.

When we finally landed in snowy Vancouver, I could have sworn the muffled announcement regarding connecting flights had stated that we would have already been rebooked on the next flight to Nassau. So we all got off at the regular pace, many, most likely locals, taking their time chatting and grabbing their items. When we finally rolled Ian up the last bit of jetway, the attendant said we could just make it. Off we rushed to the gate at the other end of the terminal. Luckily, they were still loading passengers. We were not the last to board.

As promised, the infamous blue ipad was delivered. And the boy was happy! To top off the stress of a twice delayed red-eye flight, Ian could only eat a few items. I had a bag of hard-boiled eggs, 2 packages of rice cakes and a couple bags of gluten-free crackers. Surprisingly, we'd only gone through about a third of my stash. Another reason I thought it better to take the much-shorter-travel-time late night flight.

To her excitement, from the window, Lila could see the baggage car drive up with her bag. To her dismay, the person turned the cart around and drove away! She said it was the only bag on the cart! I guess at least we weren't going to be wondering when it would come off the turnstile ;)

We then proceeded to observe the de-icing of the wings. Of the plane next to us first, and then us. And of course this took a good chunk of time. Lila and I watched this process in awe while Ian sang happily along with his favorite video.

Finally, we took off. Overall the flight was ok. I got not a wink of sleep on either flight but Lila pretty much slept the whole time. And Ian did a good 90 mins on the first flight.

What a difference a few hour flight makes! We went from snowy, icy Vancouver, to brilliant blue ocean, swaying palm trees, balmy Bahamas :)