When Flights Go Wrong

We took a vacation trip to Florida and had a great time with family and friends. Then it was time to go home.

Once we got through TSA, I rearranged the carry-on luggage, putting our laptops, zip-lock bags of toiletries and our Passports away, since we wouldn't need them anymore. All was going well, until we got to the gate. Anxiety level 1. 

It looked like all 200+ passengers were already there, crowding around. Anxiety level 2.

Hubby had his hands full with ALL our carry-on luggage, so when he asked me to follow him through the crowd, my brain decided that I was NOT going to be able to move my feet. So I closed my eyes and stumbled through the crowd. I tried to get someones attention to ask to board early but no luck, not that they could have heard me. Anxiety level 3.

And to top it off, there were 5 or 6 TSA type agents, all with big dogs on leads that were sniffing everything.  I'm going to admit that I am afraid of big dogs. Not that they will bite me, I'm afraid they will knock me down or I will trip on their leads. Please don't hold this revelation against me. Anxiety level 4. 

The TSA agents wanted to see everyone's travel approved ID's, again, and our Passports were  in one of the bags, so we dug out our Driver's Licenses and hoped it would do. Thankfully, it did. Anxiety level 5. 

One of the agent's waved Hubby through and he walked past the sniffer dogs and then waited for me. They waved me through and my feet refused to move. I tried to ask for help but couldn't make a sound, so I just reached my hand out and a gloved hand took it. I stumbled through the dogs and Hubby and I headed down the ramp. Anxiety level 6.

When I got to the plane, the tiny gap to get ON the plane was, in my Parky riddled brain, a HUGE step and I froze, again. Anxiety level 7.

Hubby helped me get on the plane and we got seated. The flight hadn't even started and I was completely exhausted and fighting to keep from crying. Anxiety level 8.

We always get aisle seats across from each other, so I can get up during the flight, and Hubby is there to help me. This particular flight was full, but I could still get up, walk to the bathroom and back. Getting IN the tiny airplane bathroom was difficult, getting OUT was a nightmare of epic proportions. Anxiety level 9.

I haven't even begun to describe the back pain I deal with due to the twisting of my torso (look up Parkinson's Pisa Syndrome) Or how the person sitting behind me kept jabbing me in my lower back with her foot. Or how I am afraid that luggage will hit me on my head when people are in a hurry to get off the plane. Anxiety level 10.

I've been home for over a week and still haven't recovered from the plane ride. I'm 99% sure that this WRONG flight is going to be my LAST flight. And there's definitely no humor in THAT. 

PS I want to say a special THANK YOU to the young man who sat next to me: Brady Saxton, an Automation Technician at Axon in the Phoenix area. He talked to me during the flight. He showed me videos of what he does at his job, and racing his drift cars and we discussed pick up trucks, gear ratios, traveling and the scenic places I thought he should go see. Everyone else was glued to their devices with earbuds on and the plane window shades closed. I said that most would be oblivious if their was a UFO outside the plane. He made the flight bearable for me. And for that, I thank him, again. 

When Flights Go Right

Flying on an airplane with its narrow aisles, cramped seating, lack of overhead bin space, along with 200 or so strangers can NOT be enjoyable for anyone. There's no humor to be found. Add in all the variables of Parkinson's disease symptoms and even IF everything goes right, it's still not fun. 

Take for example, my Parky friend Jimmy Choi, who has competed on American Ninja Warrior several times. Jimmy should have ZERO problems when he's flying. But he has uncontrollable movements like tremors and dyskinesia. And because he doesn't want his wiggling, squirming and shaking bothering the strangers next to him (or get him thrown off the flight) he will TRY to stay perfectly still; which requires ALL of his concentration. So he ends up being exhausted when he gets where he's going. No fun for him. 

I don't have any noticeable tremor because the DBS surgery I had in 2012 is still doing its job. And I don't have dyskinesia because I don't take any Parkinson's medications. But that doesn't mean flying is easy for me. On a recent flight to Florida, most everything went right. 

Going through the TSA screening is always scary for me, I know they don't understand my DBS "brain pacemaker" and I'm concerned that it might get accidentally turned off. Thank God, I don't have to take my shoes off anymore. But trying to get my jacket off, put the right items in the bins, not falling down and then getting everything back together again when there's a line of people waiting behind me and grabbing their stuff, just makes me want to go back home. 

I try to get early boarding, if I can get to the gate in time and get the attendants attention. My voice is almost gone and the few words I CAN get out, make me sound like I'm drunk.

I also have trouble going DOWN ramps, so walking the jet bridge is an issue. Even stepping across the tiny gap in between the jet bridge and the plane is a problem. My Parkinson's riddled brain perceives it as a huge gap. All of this and I haven't even got ON THE PLANE yet!   

Trying to maneuver down the narrow aisle is difficult, and that's with the plane empty. 

I would love a window seat, so I could look out the window, but we choose aisle seats across from each other, because I need help to get up from sitting. I cannot stay seated for very long. Even at home I am up and down, up and down. 

On a recent trip to Florida, even though the flight went right, there were times I wish I could have traveled some other way. I wonder IF this is available? 

Now, that would be FUN!