that time I (ALMOST) had a panic attack on an airplane

Last weekend I flew down to Columbia, SC to meet my family & visit my brother (+ his new puppy Sadie..see her HERE). We had everything planned; flights, restaurant reservations, football tickets + tailgates. I had been looking forward to this ALL month, so when I was set to leave I was beyond excited. Two things before I begin: 1) scroll down to see a few of the highlights from our family weekend, and 2) I am not a nervous flyer

It all began last Thursday night.. I was planning on packing + going to bed early so I could wake up at 5:45am to head to Lansing and catch my flight. Want to know what actually happened? I went out + drank sangria with my friends then went to sleep at 2:15am. And it all went downhill from there.

Friday, September 26:

5:45am – alarm goes off. why why why why. I proceed to lay in bed for about 15 more min.

6:02am – finally removed myself from bed + am brushing my teeth

6:05am – can’t find my deodorant..no one needs that anyways right?

6:20am – finally in the car, on the way to Lansing

7:35am – arrive in Lansing after driving through some of the CRAZIEST FOG ever. Fog is so thick that I can’t even see the terminal. I proceed to call the non-emergency number + kindly ask the man to somehow direct me to the terminal. His directions – “walk straight”

7:50am – because Lansing is the tiniest airport, I make it through security, buy a scone, hit the bathroom + am waiting in my terminal in 15 min. Boarding is supposed to begin at 8:15am, so I decide to wait patiently.

8:25am – boarding has still not happened. I continue eating my scone

8:35am – successfully on the SMALLEST plane ever. Pilot announces the flight will take 15 min to Detroit. perfect!

9:15 – I awake from my semi slumber on the plane (remember, I only slept 3.5 hours) and realize we keep diving down then flying back up. Naturally I assume we’re being hijacked. Thankfully the older man next to me tells me that the pilot is turning around

9:17am – Pilot makes the annoucement that he has been unable to land in Detroit due to the fog, but he will try a third time..if he can’t land then we have to fly to Flint. (NO NO NO NO)

Since this post will last forever if I continue on writing like this, I will try to speed things up.

Around 10 am we land in Flint, and the pilot tells us we are going to refuel and then wait until Detroit is clear. At this point I am less than thrilled because I have already missed my connecting flight to Charlotte. We park in Flint + I prepare to get off the plane but, low + behold, HE DOESN’T LET US OFF THE PLANE. I am already hungry, tired + quite frustrated, and now this pilot tells me that I have to sit on the SMALLEST PLANE EVER for at least an hour. And so the freakout begins (inside). I start getting clammy, my voice is shaking and I’m beyond overwhelmed (ps. I don’t like small enclosed spaces. If I got stuck on an elevator it would be the end of the world). The pilot says that the only people allowed to get off the plane are the ones that want to stay in Flint and I seriously debate it. I ask him if I can at least walk the aisle + he says yes. Which lasts one lap until the flight attendant makes me sit down. I’m texting my mom + BFF throughout this freakout, which I’m sure was entertaining for them. Luckily, this nice man with an iPad can see that I’m about to lose it + invites me to play some race car game on his iPad. Once I got distracted by his games + then Instagram, I totally calmed down.

Around 11:15 or so it is finally clear so we get to fly to Detroit! yay! We land there at 11:45 and I immediately head to Delta to find the next connecting flight to Charlotte. There is a full one at 1:59 + an open flight at 3:38. I get booked standby on the first + a seat on the second.

At this point I am hangry, so I go find something not terribly unhealthy in the airport. Once I eat + settle in my terminal I begin feeling much better, although I’m still a few hours away from my destination. At 1:45 they line all the standby people up in order + begin to see what seats on the plane are empty. I’m still not ever sure how, but I am the LAST STANDBY person that got on the 1:59 to Charlotte. I wanted to hug the lady I was so happy. She rushed me on saying “come on honey, lets get you on before the last person with a ticket shows up.” (I like her haha).

I made it Charlotte, NC + my family picked me up + took me to Eric’s place in Columbia, SC.  We ended up having a great weekend + my flights home Sunday were uneventful…just how I like it.

If you have any funny/crazy flying stories I would love to hear them in the comments below!
-M

Eric’s Fraternity House

USC Campus

Dogs are huge football fans too!

Jimbo with his ladies

Sistazzzz

Gretchen has no hops

Moped Brigade

ESPN Game Day – Jimbo was loving it!

Momma misses her boy!

The BEST name for a bar. It charges your credit card under “Group Therapy”

Siblings

Thrift shopping (I didn’t buy anything..so proud!)

Jimbo’s “No whining” motto

The whole family tailgating – look at that garnet + black color coordination

Popcorn makes Shannon one happy girl

Me surrounded by food…casual

Outside the stadium

“Cockabooses”

Go Gamecocks.

Williams Brice Stadium

Gretchen’s like “yeah I’m totally paying attention”

the gorgeous sunset!

Sissies

“Cocky for a reason”

Have a great weekend!

-M