I'm Flying!

The boys went on their first airplane trip Tuesday. This was something in the making for a long time. For years, David was afraid to even consider riding in an airplane. Mikey had indicated he was eager to get on a plane, but you never know with Mikey. Especially with security how it is now, and all people go through to fly, and the possible delays ... well, it's been something we've thought about but not executed.

Just when I had a week scheduled off from my consulting work, JetBlue offered a promotional $9 fare (over $25 with taxes and airport fees :-) each way, to several cities. I called the boys' Mom, and asked if we could all go - she agreed. Our destination: San Francisco.

Using the formula, I wrote up a story about our special day - driving to the airport and parking; going to the gate; going through security and taking our shoes off and putting game boys into the bins for the check; going through security one-at-a-time; waiting at the gate; sitting on the plane and wearing the seatbelt. Then waiting to get off the plane; taking BART and taking a bus. We went to the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park for the day.

I am pleased to report that, overall, both boys did very well!

On the plane there, Mikey did a couple of really funny things. He wanted to go right away, of course. I pointed out the other people getting on the plane; he was ok. But once everyone was loaded, he demanded, "GO!" I told him we'd go soon.
Finally the place started moving. "Up!" demanded Mikey.
"Soon," I said, surpressing a laugh. And then the plane picked up speed, and we started our ascent.

"FASTER!" Mikey demanded.

"We're going fast!" I said.

He was good during the trip. JetBlue had TV, and Mom noticed that one channel was Animal Planet, which he watched - mostly without sound. I had to remind him to keep his seat belt on after we landed, but he was good waiting.

The day was not without incident, however. We started pretty well. Mikey does tend to go quickly through things, then repeat them. The Academy had a special exhibit on mammals that he particularly liked. People were let in on an arranged time basis, in small groups - the exhibit was climate controlled. We went through it quickly, and then went on to another controlled climate - tropical (hot and damp!). Mom has friends who live in the Bay area; they joined us for lunch. We had a nice lunch at outside tables, and the boys played in a fenced yard.

After lunch, Mikey wanted to go back to the mammals; we asked him to wait until after we went to the African diorama exhibit and the aquarium. While we were in the aquarium, an emergency alarm sounded and we had to leave the building. Mikey had a total melt-down, screaming and doing the hit-head-bit-heel-of-hand routine that I've described before. One of us went and asked the guard; they thought we would be able to get back in in 15 minutes. [I think it was a fire alarm; the FD came but there was no smoke or fire. We assume it was tripped in error or by malicious intent, but not that there was anything really wrong.]

It was at least an HOUR before we got to go back in. Mikey screamed almost the whole time.

When we went back in, we were able to go back through the mammals and he was fine.

During Mikey's outburst, David got upset and declared the "whole day" was not any fun. (Later, when I asked him, he said it was only the time while Mikey had a tantrum while it was not fun.)

Our return to the airport was not eventful, except the bus was really full. I think it bothered Mom more than the boys. At the airport, there was a small incident with David: there was an "Orange Level" posted terrorist alert. David worries about everything; he started obsessing on what it meant and if he was in danger. Mom talked to him about it, quietly. At one point, the airport made an announcement about the level and the "watch your bags" announcement - I told David that's what "orange" meant.

I asked, "Do you have luggage?"
He replied in the negative. "But you have a backpack?" I continued.
"Yes"
"And are you keeping your backpack close, and you know that no one put anything in it?"
"Yes."
"Then you're OK," I finished. I think it helped.

And so, onto the airplane we went. The trip home was not at all eventful, but there was one thing worth mentioning - as we started our takeoff, Mikey laughed gleefully and clapped his hands - I think he likes takeoffs!