Traveling to Greece

After your fourth birthday party, Mommy packed the last of our suitcases for the two of us to travel to Greece. We wanted Daddy to join us this year too so that the three of us could be together but unfortunately, he had to stay behind to finish several different construction projects as well as continue to work so that the two of us could travel to Yiayia’s & Papou’s house in Greece. Daddy took off mid-day Wednesday, to drive the two of us to the airport in Memphis. It was right about your nap time but you were too excited to even nap in the truck in route to the airport. You chattered, sang, and asked questions all the way to Memphis. We stopped at Starbucks for Mommy’s coffee fix and then ventured to the airport. Daddy helped us tag our suitcases with address labels. After checking in, he waited at the end of security for us to pass through and have our bags inspected! You were so funny telling Daddy to “go to work”. He waited until we had our shoes back on and our bags in hand before waving goodbye one more time. You wanted to run out the corridor once more to give him another hug and kiss but Mommy wouldn’t let you leave since you’d have to go through security checkpoints again! Thus, again you reiterated, “Daddy, go to work! Bye!” We found our gate and waited to board our flight for Atlanta. Once on board, you enjoyed coke and peanuts but due to stormy weather our plane wasn’t able to land in Atlanta. We hovered over the city for over forty minutes but again were unable to land. The captain informed us that we were going to Columbus, GA just as you asked Mommy what the lightening streaks in the clouds were. We could only see the lightening but could not hear the storm brewing outside. Together, we passed the time playing games and singing songs on the stranded flight on the runway of Columbus, GA’s airport. Mommy could see sweat drenching your face as you got warmer and warmer. One touch of your skin told Mommy to get the thermometer and Advil out of our bag. As we continued to wait, we lost track of time. I had to ask for water to keep you hydrated as our aircraft began to refuel and prepare for takeoff once more. We arrived in Atlanta sometime after 10:30 p.m. or later. We had left Memphis at 5:25. Thus, I knew then that we had missed our connecting flight to Paris, France. There were no other flights out of Atlanta that Wednesday night. You were utterly exhausted since you had not taken a nap at all and had been up waiting to leave for Greece with great enthusiasm since six a.m. The unrest and the fever were taking their toll on you although you continued to follow directions and help Mommy as she stood in line to reschedule our flight for Thursday and booked a hotel for the night. After both tasks were accomplished, we searched for food only to find convenient food stores still open at the airport. Your dinner consisted of dried cereal, water, and milk on the way to the hotel which was a fiasco in and of itself. We were booked for Days Inn East but were taken to the wrong hotel. With another long line to wait out, we were told to go back to the airport. Fortunately, the hotel clerk had a kind heart. He booked us a room for the night. With only a few hours left before our flight out to New York in the morning, Mommy unlocked our hotel room and quickly gave you a bath to cool you down and settle you in to finish dinner---dry cereal and milk as I, too, showered. Then, I sang you songs and held you close as you fell asleep sometime around one thirty a.m. It was then that I realized that I was hungry too. I ate some dried nuts and a protein bar with a cup of tap water for dinner. Then, I reorganized our carry on luggage so we’d be set to go the next morning. Next, I snuggled by you and we slept. The hotel by far wasn’t my favorite at all but having you resting close to me after such a difficult, derailed flight plan-------safe and sound, I was thankful. The morning brought its own worries. You woke shortly after I did with a barking, dry cough! The hot, dry air from our stranded aircraft yesterday had caught up with you again. Your drainage and sinus passages were an absolutely mess. I quickly read through the directions of your inhaler and gave you a breathing treatment. I texted your pediatrician and called Daddy. Soon, thereafter, we left our room behind and waited for the hotel bus shuttle for the airport. We checked in at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport and went through security checkpoints once again. We rode the train with a request from you to sit in the back so you could see other trains (an indication that you remembered our travels from last year as we ventured to/from Greece------with its own adventure story). At our gate, we snacked, had coffee, played, colored, etc. while we waited for our flight to New York that would connect us to another flight for Greece. After hours of waiting, the aircraft was delayed over an hour or more. We were almost first to board after a quick last bathroom break at the airport. The Delta attendant had just called for children under two but the look on my face and yours must have said, “EXHAUSTED!!!” because she told us to come on as others were getting their boarding passes ready. Once we were settled in the back of the plane others boarded quickly so we could leave. However, there were medical emergencies on the aircraft so boarding halted as personnel took care of the situation. Then, we had to wait for Delta employees to bring two new first aid kits on board before we could leave. These delays left me wondering if we’d even make it to New York on time for a flight out to Greece. I was beginning to think about a luxurious hotel in New York and a vacation in New York rather than in Greece since I was so exhausted--------we were supposed to be in Greece already! As the flight to New York finally left, you curled up next to Mommy and fell asleep for half of the flight. We arrived just in time for our flight out to Greece. I didn’t even have the energy to rush us to the gate. The captain and his crew had said that someone would be waiting for Athens, Greece travelers to take us by shuttle to the aircraft but it had disappeared. Gate four! We were headed to gate four. Luckily, you were eager to move with me. We didn’t have a stroller in tote for this fourth trip to Greece together. The electric walkways helped you move even quicker as I walked quickly to keep up with you. Once at our gate, we showed our boarding passes and boarded the full aircraft. We were asked to turn left. Mommy had to wait for you since you had already turned right heading to the back of the plane again. I waited and we made our way to our first class seats! What a blessing after such travel turmoil! We had reclining seats that resembled slides for you! You’d climb to the top and slide down. You enjoyed a four course meal and fresh drinks on demand. You slept curled up next to Mommy in her seat until you fell soundly asleep. Our 36+ hour travel adventures landed us safely in Athens where we enjoyed restful sleep at Nouna Mary’s apartment. You were a gem. I couldn’t have asked for a better travel partner. I was impressed with your persistence to carry on with little rest prior to our departure. I only remember two sets of tears when you fell at the airport in Atlanta prior to departure and on the last flight during landing when you had to sit in your own chair rather than on Mommy’s lap. I, too, wanted to cry and hold you close as a release from such a hard trip but together, we made it to our final destination, Greece.