1st Leg - Savannah to Detroit

Me & my carry-ons
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Departure from Savannah was uneventful & ok.  However, someone please remind me NOT to wear my belt to the airport next time.  I ALWAYS have to go back thru the metal detectors, take my belt off & walk thru again. UGH!

Are you ready for this entry? . . . . I'm apparently feeling chatty today (yesterday).

Seriously?! I was thinking "is he for real"?

By the way, for those of you that told me to pack light, I did.  I'm sure it wouldn't be considered "light" for some of you, but for me it was.  I had 2 carry-ons and 1 large piece of luggage that I checked.  It weighed 50 lbs. exactly!!

On the way to Detroit
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Ok, so knowing this is going to be a REALLY LONG DAY,  I was a little worried about  having sweaty armpits, being stinky & having a dirty shirt.  I even packed 2 shirts in my carry-on to change into.  Apparently, not everyone worries about how they smell @ noon!  The guy that sat next to me on the flight to Detroit was STINKIN'!!  He must have spent the night drinking.  The smell of stale alcohol was emitting from his pores!

Aside from his alcohol cologne, he was nice enough to put up with me & my bulging backpack infringing on his floor space.  That was until the nice flight attendant dude (aka F.A.D.) did his safety walk thru.  He already passed by a couple times, but this time I was busted.  I had to "stow" my backpack under the seat in front of me. (remember I said it was bulging!?!)  He also pointed out that my phones & camera needed to be off & stowed.  They were already off, but I had to find a place to shove them.

One of the Great Lakes - Lake Erie?
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Seriously?! I was thinking "is he for real"?  I don't travel a ton, but I've been on 4 other flights in the past 12 months and a few in my life before that.  I ALWAYS hold my camera in my lap!  I obeyed & found a spot to cram the phones, but the camera was NOT fitting in that bag.  And just so ya' know, the seat pocket in front of you is NOT considered an acceptable place to stow your electronics! (since when?)

So there I am holding my precious camera in my lap with my sweatshirt over the top of it.  I wasn't really trying to get away with anything, I just didn't want to part with it.  I assure you if there were some sort of turbulence, crash, or other disaster, that camera will be wherever I am.  I will not let go of it.

Here comes F.A.D.  - - whew - - I'm clear, he's going to the front.  Oh crap, here he comes again.  (Honestly, I've never seen a flight attendant walk thru so many times.)  He stops by us again, looks at me & asks if my seat belt is buckled.  I appreciate him being safety conscious.

I said, "Yes, it is", as I revealed the buckle that was covered by my sweatshirt.

Then he said what I feared he would say, "Is that your camera in your lap"?

I replied, "Yes, it won't fit in my bag".

He smiled and kindly reached for my camera saying, "It'll have to go in the overhead".

Gulp, my poor camera had to go in the overhead with only my sweatshirt wrapped around it for cushion.  I felt like a kid in high school who just had her cell phone taken away!  Then I started praying for my camera's safety.  "Dear God, please let my camera survive up there.   I need him by my side in Japan." (sorry, that was a little dramatic)

All was well on the plane.  F.A.D. walked thru selling peanuts & trail mix for $3.  Sure am glad my backpack was loaded with various snacks I brought from home.  Soda (pop) is still free on flights (probably not for long).  So, I was enjoying my free Diet Pepsi with a little ice!!  Remember me being worried about stinking & having a dirty shirt?  Well, nevermind that - - I dribbled (more like completely missed my mouth) & am now the proud owner of a brown stain on the front of my shirt - - NICE!

By the way, Mr. F.A.D. came back by & got my camera down before he started snack  & beverage service.  Nice of him.  Maybe my face was showing signs of stress & despair from camera separation!! Ha!

Stay tuned . . . .