Monday, June 30, 2008

Oh Canada!

Got up Friday morning at 4:15 to finish off last minute packing and have breakfast. Glenn, bless his heart, who got off work at midnight, got up around 5 to get me to the airport by 5:30. He went home to sleep some more. My flight to Vancouver was on time and proceeded without incident. We landed at Vancouver around 9:30. The plane to Saskatoon left at 3:55. I had LOTS of time. I'd arranged for wheelchairs at all the airports, so I was whisked through customs and taken to my departure gate. I found a not so comfy seat and settled in for a long wait. Three different flights left from that gate, so I saw many people come and go...no one was speaking of Michelangelo, however. I had lunch, then waited some more. The gate was filling up with passengers for a flight to Calgary. There was some sort of youth trip going on that flight, because there seemed to be about a million obstreperous boys with very few chaperones. There was an announcement of a gate change, so the whole crowd migrated from Gate B16 to B12. The noise level went down considerably. Stray people would wander up looking for the Calgary flight and I told them about the gate change. Ever the helpful Service Rep. While I was waiting, I finished working on the Yellowstone Falls cross-stitch. I was so excited I e-mailed Cherri Fulmer with the news. A mother and her two sons, five and seven, adorable and well behaved, came to the gate. Yippee, they were going to Saskatoon. Finally my flight was getting near. We looked at the display on the gate and it was announcing another flight to Calgary that left after ours was scheduled. Odd, we thought, so the mother went off to see if our gate had changed. By golly, yes, it had--we were scheduled to leave from gate E38--all the way across the airport. I knew I didn't have the stamina to make it, so I found an agent who got me transportation. We made it just before the plane started loading. My name was called and the gate agent asked if I would like a wheelchair ride out to the plane. Why yes, thank you. Oh and you are booked in seat 11A we can move you to 3F, that will be much closer for you. The flight attendant took all my hand luggage so that I could hold on with both hands on the few stairs up to the plane. She stowed my stuff and got me comfortable. Then the other passengers started boarding. The biggest, fattest, tallest man on board sat down in the seat next to me. Good thing it's a short flight, I thought. Then the wonderful flight attendant asked if he would be more comfortable in a seat by himself and reseated him. Whew!
The flight was fine until we got to Saskatoon, where it was storming, so we were a little bumpy coming in, but we landed safe and sound. I waited till everyone left, then once again, the FA helped me with my stuff and I was wheeled out. My friends Ken and Margaret were waiting for me--I'd worn the grey CP so that I would match my passport and they would recognize me.
We had dinner then made the two hour trip home to Wynyard. It had been a very long day.
Saturday after breakfast, I settled down to read and took a three hour nap. In the afternoon, I started working on the Old Faithful cross-stitch and did some knitting. We had a Chinese dinner then came home to watch end end of the Saskatchewan-Edmonton football game--Saskatchewan won, YEAH TEAM!
Sunday, we went into Saskatoon to see Cirque du Soleil. It was amazing. We were sitting in the third row. The colors were brilliant, the acrobatics breathtaking. There was supposed to be a story and there was some dialogue and singing, but it was all in French, so we had no clue. We didn't really need to know. Everything was spectacular and fast paced.
After the show, we went to Saskatoon's new First Nation casino so that I could get in a gamboling fix. I played for an hour or so, made some pennies, lost more pennies, and had a good time. Headed back home to Wynyard, stopping for a steak dinner on the way. Another long day.
Today has no plans, other than what I'm doing at the moment, and just hanging out. I'm feeling better, finally, heading into my good week. After the rain storm in Saskatoon on Friday, things have dried up and warmed up. It was downright hot yesterday and promises to be the same all week. I'll get some pictures of the farm and post them after I get home.
That's it for now.
xxooxx

2 comments:

Bertamom said...

Glad you're having a good time and starting to feel better. Geez, you are BUSY! I've only seen Cirque on DVD - and even THAT'S amazing - it must be incredible live. Sure hope your flight home doesn't have that loooonnnngggg layover! Altho I guess it is good for cross stitch, knitting, reading, etc. Missed you Sunday - all went well, and a couple of people were videotaping, so we could probably find you a video of the service if you wanted to see it -

Victoria said...

Ooh, you sound like you are having fun. Just think of me. Working at my computer. While you are gallivanting around the countryside.