Oh my goodness you guys! It was amazing! I cried a least three different times! After twelve years for me and over eighteen for my husband of dreaming, struggling, scrambling, sacrificing and working our butts off -I and our children got to ride on a commercial aircraft with my husband piloting it. So much had to happen -good, bad and ugly- to make it so that I could sit in that seat -it still brings tears to my eyes!
DH overnighted about two hours away from where we live so we drove out and met him there. Then he had just one leg back to Denver and was done. So, we played in the hotel pool for a while, ate the lunch I'd brought and the boys and I headed to the airport. We got to the gate well before the crew and were ready and waiting when they got there. We were sat in First class since no one else was up there and Jason got to have pictures taken with his Dad in the cockpit. I have video of Jarred giving the announcement and Jason listening. Then we were off for a mostly uneventful flight. That is until the approach into Denver. Of course it is always bumpy going in but it was REALLY bumpy and DH (who specializes in very smooth landings) ultimately just dropped it onto the runway. Jason, who flies often and has learned to rate landings, looked at me and said, "Mommy, was that a CRASH landing?"
I thought the flight attendant was going to split a gut laughing. Poor hubby is still a little disgusted with himself but will hopefully have lots of opportunity to do better in the future.
The funny thing was that while it was all emotional and momentous for me, Jason just took it in stride. But when I think about it, of course that's his reaction. Afterall, Daddy's a pilot, of course he's flying the plane -that's what he does!
It was also fun to see the double-takes people made with DH helping me with the kids in uniform. I joked that childcare is a new customer service his airline is offering to offset tix prices! We got to talking about it and I asked why it didn't seem unprofessional to him (when he was helping with the kids it was not when he was flying or preparing for his flight. It was just when he was done or the next day getting us on our flight home) He said, "You know what, pilots are parents too. If nothing else, it should reassure them that we have good reason to get EVERYBODY home safely." I thought that was really sweet!
Anyway, once we got to Denver, we met up with Amelia and had an awesome time watching the fireworks! I'll post about that seperately though.
Ladies, it was a very affirming experience for me. Airline life can be hard. The road to it can be even harder. But, I've never been more proud of my husband and all he's achieved or of myself for helping him make it happen.
Jackie
PS Here's a link to the video
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