Gikan sa Uma, Ngadto sa Ciudad

From Detroit to Chicago

My flight was to leave for Chicago at 8:28 AM - John dropped me off at Detroit Metro Airport just after 7:00 AM. There was a flight delay - my flight was now scheduled to leave at 11:30 AM.

Big problem: my connecting flight to San Francisco was scheduled to leave at 10:00 AM - arriving during lunchtime at San Francisco.

So I was booked for a 3:00 PM flight at Chicago, with assurances from the booking agent, that she was printing my boarding pass for the connecting flight - all I have to do in Chicago is show up at the gate.

Chicago O'Hare International

Not my favorite airport! What usually happens is that you get off in one concourse gate - say B then have to catch your connecting in another concourse, say A or C or worse D. And it is a long walk and a series of escalator rides in the process.

Lost Lauren in this airport once; when she was about three years old. I was on a business trip to San Francisco and decided to take her with me.

I started a mental list of who is in Chicago. Catmonanons I can call during the four hour lay over. There is Julia Cavada, my cousin Rex and Siony Jurado, cousin Lorna - Tio Viveng and Tia Moning Montecillo's daughter,Leo Montecillo's children and several others.

Well, discovered that my cell phone was dying - so, decided to let go of the idea! Ended up people watching instead, doing some praying and some reflecting.

Boarded the plane, loaded my coat and lap top in the overhead; when a young man came claiming my seat. Turned out we were both assigned the same seat - it happens! Especially during holiday travel.

One of the agents,from the boarding gate was paging me on the loudspeaker. When, he found me, he proceeded to order me off the plane because I did not have a seat in that flight. Wrong day and wrong person to mess with!

Frankly, he is one of those rude Filipinos, who, when they are in authority, would lord over others with no questions asked, no probing, no problem solving skills. Times when I pretend that I am not Filipino and I can neither speak or understand
the language. Must write to United Airlines to complain about this.

I made a fuss; refused to get off the plane. The supervisor was called. I explained the circumstances to her. A very smart Filipina - she said "if you can find a seat, it is yours." I claimed the nearest vacant seat. She noted the seat number - they were already working on seating "stand by passengers" and I was a full paying passenger, after all; I got the seat.

I have been flying on average, once a year in the last 42 years - a few tricks were learned along the way.

In San Francisco

My sister in law, Janet was meeting me at the airport. Janet is my brother Athan's wife (Jonathan).They did not get the message, I left in my sister P-nat's house phone about the delay. She could not find me - they were worried about me.

Why? I come from the "uma," from "ilaya" at that!

I live in Northville. Main Street is about a mile long with three or four stop lights. The nearest big city is Detroit. Detroit can not compare with Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, New York or any other city. It is in Michigan.

Michigan is in the Midwest - Midwesterners are looked upon as less sophisticated about the world. We are a pretty stodgy bunch - factory folks and farmers. We are simple but not simpletons.

My flight got in at 5:45 PM. Picked up some food and went directly to the hospital to spend the night there.

My first Christmas Eve with Tatay. My first Christmas morning with Tatay, in a rather drab hospital room. But being with Tatay, after a sixty year wait, is enough Christmas for me.