Off to North Platte -- Surprise

I was up at 5:30am to catch a 10:14am flight out of Salt Lake City.  I left the apartment by 6:40am; I had aimed for 6:30am. The drive down wasn’t too bad.  Elder Eubanks had recommended that I take Legacy Highway to avoid some of the traffic and big trucks—they’re not allowed on that highway.  Parked in the economy lot and took shuttle bus to terminal.  Pretty efficient. 

I had arrived in plenty of time.  Ended up passing the time talking with a gentleman from Kansas.  He was waiting for my Frontier flight to come in so he could meet his wife.  They had booked at different times to come to Salt Lake for a grandchild’s blessing or priesthood ordination.  Not sure which because he was telling about how they fly out for their grandchildren’s special ordinations.

Frontier had a full plane and asked for people to check their carry-on through.  I took advantage of the opportunity (no charge for checking) so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting my suitcase from one gate to the other.  When I returned to my seat, someone else had sat where I was so I went to the bathroom.  Upon returning their large duffle bag was there but the person wasn’t.  A TSA gal came by to check it out and asked if I knew who it had belonged to.  No idea, but I thought it had been a woman (wasn’t even certain about that).  They notified the police.  An officer came after a bit to take it away.  The gal from TSA says it happens quite often that people leave their luggage to go to the bathroom or get a bite even though they aren’t suppose to.  She has even been asked to watch someone’s luggage which she can’t do.  I think they opened it up later and found some ID because I heard them announce on the PA for someone to come claim their lost item.

We took off at 10:14am and arrived in Denver at 11:30am.  Had a three hour layover.  There I had the opportunity to talk to a couple from Vernal, Utah.  They had been down in Texas visiting her family.  I
didn’t realize there was a flight to Vernal on Great Lakes Airline.  They seem to go to all the out of the way places.

We left Denver at 3pm and arrived in North Platte at 5pm.  The flight was pretty smooth, but noisy, the consequences of flying in a smaller aircraft.  I was able to have an isle seat and a window seat all at the same time.

Michelle was there to pick me up.  She dropped me off at Jeanne’s, but didn’t come to the door with me.  Jeanne made sure to have Laurel answer the door.  I rang the door bell a couple times before she opened it.  When Laurel opened the door, she stood there with her mouth open in disbelief.  I said “I heard there is a baptism tomorrow.   I thought I would come for it.”  All the kids were in disbelief when they saw me.  One of the few times they have been speechless.  After they recovered from their initial shock, they were very excited to see me and I had lots of hugs.