Part 1 – Traveling from North Alabama to Seattle (by way of Newark)
In celebration of my sister’s escape from her abusive ex-husband—who will henceforth forever be referred to as an “All-Around Bad Guy” or AABG—she booked a cruise to Alaska. She asked if I wanted to go, and I said “hell yeah.” Then our cousin Rene and her husband Justin (yes, the ones that own the Doberman breeding and dog boarding business) said they wanted to come. Then my aunt and uncle, Barb & Wyatt, said they’d like to come too—even though they went on an Alaskan cruise last year. It took about a year of planning. The bonus part was that I was able to get both mine and my sister’s round-trip airplane tickets for FREE*.
Our journey began on Thursday, August 28, at 7 a.m. We packed up my hybrid car and made two pit stops: one to fuel up and one to grab coffee and bug spray. Then we made our way from North Alabama to our extended-stay parking in Nashville, TN without incident—in spite of my dash light alerting me to low air pressure in one tire. (It didn’t indicate which one, but I have my suspicions.) We arrived at the BNA International Airport in Nashville in plenty of time to go through TSA and check our two bags.
Complications Arose
We had a few hours before boarding. Another UA flight’s passengers were in the process of deboarding due to mechanical issues. Joyce and I congratulated ourselves that we weren’t on that flight. Poor blokes.
We boarded our plane—and then the captain came on the intercom to announce that, due to mechanical issues, our plane would have to wait for another part to arrive at 3 p.m. Joyce and I looked at each other and said simultaneously, “Karma.”
We exited the plane. We were scheduled to catch a connecting flight in Chicago but would miss it, and there wasn’t another connection to Seattle that day. Joyce got on the UA app and was able to get us on another flight to Newark, NJ, with a connection to Seattle. We rushed to the other gate—thankfully that plane was also delayed, so we made it in time. Whew!
We boarded and departed sans complications. However, we were anxious about catching the connecting flight in New Jersey because we barely had enough time after deboarding to make it. Then, midair, we remained in a holding pattern for a while.
The passenger next to me was also anxious—she had an international flight to catch with no other flights that day. We bonded over Connecting Flight Anxiety (CFA). Fortunately, our connecting flight from Newark to Seattle was also delayed. We rushed off the plane to the gate. By that time, we hadn’t had a proper meal since breakfast, and it was 6 p.m., but we were too anxious to grab airport food. Thankfully, Joyce, my hero, had packed nuts and protein bars.
Comic Relief
My birthday is September 18, and I’d planned a birthday party for myself this year because it’s a big one—I’ll be turning 38!
I have a birthday motto every year. It began when I turned 29 after reading Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels (titled after numbers, like One for the Money). When I turned 29 my motto was So Fine @ 29! My motto this year is Tempting Fate at 38! Last year, I was Revin’ It Up at 37!
All that background information to say: I’d sent out a group text to invite my friends, the Owers/Assers clans (not their real names; changed to protect the innocent guilty), to my birthday party. Please enjoy the following group text conversation:
Yours Truly: Greetings Owers/Asser clans you’re invited to B’s 38th birthday party on Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 pm. Location is Sam & Greg’s Pizza. Time is 6:30 pm. Pizza and beverages provided. Please RSVP by 9/5 so I know how much pizza to order. There will be gluten & dairy free options. Bonus – you’ll get to meet my fun and slightly *I should have stated more than slightly* dysfunctional family. Celebrating emoji face x3.
Teresa: Teresa and Glenn will be there – thanks!
Tyler (Hannah’s newly wedded hubby): Who is this?
Glenn: We are Hannah’s (your wife’s) Parents. We met you back in May. Ring any bells?
Teresa: Wedding bells?
Glenn: That’s a great hint!
Tyler: You’re throwing a party for B? That’ll be fun!
Glenn: We would be considered your “in-laws.” Anything?
Tyler: Does she know about it?
Glenn: Now she does. Hey-B! Seriously, B is inviting us to her party at Sam & Greg’s Pizza. Sounds like fun!
Tyler: Who are Sam and Greg? Are they the ones who sent the text?
Glenn: Great question! Sam and Greg’s is a local pizza place. That is Hannah’s fault. She should have included Sam and Greg’s Pizza in your Orientation Class for your in-laws hometown. She needs to add it to her presentation and a menu placed in the Orientation packet would have been very considerate. I apologize on her behalf!
Tyler: Won’t be the first time you’ll have to do that. But it sounds fun! I hope B can make it!
Glenn: Nor will it be the last time that I have to do it! Thanks for understanding!
Tyler: No worries. I still think we should invite her to Greg’s pizza party though.
Glenn: Absolutely!
Hannah: Don’t threaten me with making a binder. I WILL do it.
Tyler: B!
Glenn: How about a PowerPoint? Are you too scared to do one of those???
Yours Truly: (In response to TA’s Who is this?) This is B … Hannah’s… friend.
Tyler: I thought you were in Spokane?
Yours Truly: Hannah is also an expert on making… spreadsheets…
Yours Truly: We are still en route to Seattle by way of Newark NJ! Had to re-route from Nashville and went to the east coast to go to the west coast!!
*Inserts picture of My Hero and me on airplane with the caption
TA: Someone must have told a heck of a joke. Or, you really like Newark.
Yours Truly: *laughing at the 28 text messages from Glenn & Tyler. Brett hasn’t chimed in yet. He must be hanging out with Sam & Greg.
Tyler: Also, have y’all noticed how bad he is a spreadsheets? Geeze.
Brett: Hey this is Brett! Who are you people?
Safe Arrival
We finally boarded our plane and had an uneventful flight from the East Coast to the West Coast—just feeling the need to be extra and fly transcontinental.
We made it to Seattle. The hotel had a complimentary shuttle and picked us up. Our driver was kind and friendly. She said our relatives—Aunt Barb, Uncle Wyatt, Rene, and Justin—had arrived earlier. We knew; they’d been sending us pictures of the Space Needle, Lowe’s restaurant, and the monorail while we were experiencing CFA. Ruuuude.
We made it safely to the hotel, ordered Indian food through DoorDash, and it was amazing. Justin and Rene, who were sharing a room, had already gone to bed but greeted us when we got in. We weren’t far behind.
Here’s how I booked FREE round-trip flights for 2:
I joined an online consumer survey site called MyPoints. There are hundreds of them, but I’ve found MyPoints the most consistent (even with a few bugs).
My favorite perk: when you earn points after completing surveys or activities, you can redeem them for United Airlines miles. United Airlines membership is free—just create an account and redeem your MyPoints for miles. UA miles don’t expire, so you can keep banking them.
It took me a long time to earn enough points—like, a long time—but my current job gives me the freedom to do that. When I finally had enough miles, I searched for flights to Seattle. I thought I had enough points for round-trip tickets, but realized I only had enough for two one-way. Uggh! Panic! Grumble!
Luckily, I managed to earn enough before our deadline. In the end, I got two round-trip tickets from Nashville to Seattle—for free. Whew!
If you’re interested in joining MyPoints to earn miles toward free flights with United Airlines, please use my referral link:
👉 https://www.mypoints.com?rb=95556917
Disclaimer: I get referral bonus points. Thank you, thank you!!!
