On January 5th, shortly after takeoff from Portland Oregon, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 blew out its sealed "Door Plug" causing an uncontrolled decompression of the plane. The plane managed to land safely with all the passengers and crew still all seated and buckled in. On January 6th, Alaska Airlines grounded all its 737 Max 9's which make up 20% of their fleet, causing a cascading effect of cancellations and rescheduling for many flights.
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| Portland Physics Teacher, Bob Sauer with the Boeing 737 Max 9 "Door Plug" found in his backyard. |
Meanwhile...
In a much needed change of scenery, my wife Mary Kit and I had planned several months ago a Thursday, January 11th flight from San Diego to Seattle and the great Pacific Northwest. We were going back to see our PNW families, including a three-day trip to Cannon Beach in Oregon. I was also back to see my life-long buddy Bill and continue our tradition of meeting and spending a couple of office days together in downtown Seattle.
On January 10th, we got an email from Alaska Airlines telling us our flight had been cancelled and they would write us back. They did write back about an hour later and said they had rescheduled our flight to the next day at 2:20pm. So, we Lyft to the airport, get checked-in and wait for two hours to catch our flight. About 30 minutes before we board, an agent announces that the inbound flight that came from Mexico "had some maintenance issues" and there was going to be a 15 minute delay before boarding. Then the next bulletin, a one hour delay. At the two hour mark, Mike the mechanic rolls out from under the plane and says, "She ain't goin' nowhere today pilgrims." We're then told, "Please proceed back down to Baggage Claim and pick up your luggage, and thank you for flying Alaska Airlines."
We go down get our luggage, and everyone's on their phones calling Alaska Airlines reservations and getting the same message, "Please hold, there is currently a four-hour wait time before an agent can assist you." Mary Kit says to me, "You sit with the luggage and I'll go back to the Alaska Airlines ticket counter and see when we can get another flight." Actually, that's not exactly what she said, but just go with it. Anyway, she goes to the counter, and sees about 150 people in line. Then she notices, only two people in line for First Class/Priority Customers. She goes to that line.
She approaches the ticket agent, and in her sweetest Grandma voice tells the agent she has to get to Seattle ASAP, the agent tells her to "go to other line" when she fails to produce the Priority Customer number. "But sir, I have to get to Seattle before my family leaves for Oregon on Saturday." The agent looks at the other line, now growing to 200, and says, "Let's see what we can do." He spends about an hour with her trying to find multiple connecting flights scenarios, etc. when a coworker tells him, "Try John Wayne" (in Orange County). He then miraculously finds the last two seats on a 7am Friday flight out of John Wayne to Seattle. She takes it, and works out a free voucher (hour and a half) Lyft ride and hotel stay near the airport. The next morning, we actually take off, seated in separate middle seats a row back from each other. She's Chatty Cathy with her seat mate having a good conversation. My row mates are already fast asleep and sprawled out while I'm in a zen-like state, body straight with my arms tucked in for 2 hours and fifty minutes. I'm delusional, sitting in the middle seat with strangers and thinking this must be just as difficult as the yoga "crane pose."
We land, it's f!!!ing 23 degrees and this San Diego wuss is grumpy. However once in the elements, the change of environment is spectacular and worth all the time spent on various planes, buses, ferries, and automobiles! My mind needs and welcomes this change in the days ahead.
I'm back to my see my three step-children, their spouses and six grandchildren. I'm back to see my childhood friend, Bill who I have known since we've been five years old. Yeah, we go way back.
I'm back in Tacoma, and back in Cannon Beach Oregon on a sunny day with frozen sand at Haystack Rock. I'm back in West Seattle, and back in downtown Seattle, eating at Matt's in the Market and then Serious Pie the next day. I'm back in Edmonds, and back in the beautiful PNW were I have been welcomed and loved by the wonderful people we keep coming back to.
Now, I'm writing this on the following Friday night before I wake up at 3:00am to catch a 6:45am flight back to San Diego... on Alaska Airlines. Okay Mike, your mechanics better make this my last sentence here talking about dreadful flights... We land safely and on time. That afternoon it actually rains in San Diego and the Pickleball players at the tennis courts next to my house scatter. Serenity now!
Enjoy the Playlist my friends, with all the videos from artists and bands from yes, the Pacific Northwest!
Happy Birthday Shawna and Abby!