Greene County, Indiana · Saturday, November 21, 2009
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I'm too old (and out of shape) to be running through airports
Posted Friday, February 27, 2009, at 12:01 PM
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Some observations from a recent trip to Kiawah Island, S.C., to watch Rachael play golf:

* If you happened to be in the Memphis, Tenn., airport at around 1:30-1:40 p.m. CST on Feb. 21 you would have witnessed an overweight-out-of-shape-almost-48-year-old man running like a madman.

Why? Because I wanted to make sure Deb and I made our connecting flight from Memphis to Charleston, S.C.

We were delayed in Indianapolis because of the rain, snow, and ice that hit central Indiana last Saturday. So instead of having 45 minutes between flights, we had almost none.

I took off running to make sure they knew we were there, but when I got to Gate B12 as the boarding pass stated, the sign said the flight was to St. Louis.

After a minute or two of trying to find someone from the airline, I located an attendant and she called someone and said it had been moved to Gate 26. As luck would have it, that's all the way to the other end of the terminal.

Off I went. By the time I got there, the plane had just detached from the walkway. Myself, Deb and nine other passengers needed to get on that plane.

It never happened.

It was exactly 1:40 p.m. CST when I arrived, but they said no. How many flights do you know of that leave on time?

The next flight was at 7:20 p.m. CST, and the nice lady assured us that our bags would be on the flight with us.

She was wrong. Our bags were on the 1:40 p.m. flight and made it to Charleston on time.

Go figure!

* When we arrived back to Indianapolis on Tuesday night, Deb and I witnessed something you don't often see.

An elderly man, probably in his mid-80s, was on board. He was in pretty good shape for his age, but when it was time to leave the plane, it was obvious he was going to need help.

A young lady took the time to help him, and after Deb and I asked for a wheelchair for the man, the young lady took her time to help more.

We saw her later near the baggage claim, and then take him outside to wait for a cab.

From what we gathered, the young lady didn't know the man, and he was traveling alone.

As Deb said, God had a reason for that young lady to be sitting next to the elderly man.

* We didn't get a chance to see much of Charleston or Kiawah Island, but what we did see, it was nice.

Joe Hart said he spent a week in Charleston one year when his son Joey was playing for Coastal Carolina in the Southern Conference Tournament. He said Deb and I needed to tour the area, but we didn't get the chance.

It was three days of golf, eating with the team, and back to the motel.

I did notice that the people were friendly, and no one seemed to be in a big hurry.

* And yes, I was sore the next day from running through the airport.


Comments
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Sorry to hear you didn't get more of a chance to visit Charleston. We lived outside of Charleston for three years and really grew to love the place. In fact, Charleston and Savannah are still our two favorite American cities.

-- Posted by horrorwriter on Sat, Feb 28, 2009, at 8:28 PM

OK, so how did Rachael do?

-- Posted by simmons on Sun, Mar 1, 2009, at 4:45 AM
Chris Pruett's response:
She had rounds of 85, 73, 80. The 85 was on a day with 30-35 mph wind, and the average score that day was 84.5 on that course. You know how it is Simmons, that 73 was so close to being a 70 or 69 ... too many close birdie putts didn't fall. The 80 the next day was a good 80 ... her approach shots weren't like the day before. Overall, she finished No. 1 for Ball State. The team didn't do as well as it would have liked, but not too bad considering the weather in Muncie didn't allow them to get out much.

Now it's off to Phoenix and Florida in a week or so.

Thanks for asking Simmons!!!

hahaha!! i would have paid to see you running through the airport!! i think that's why we condition so much!!! never know when you're going to need to sprint to a flight!! hahaha!

thanks for asking about me Simmons!!! over all i played pretty well, i was just glad to be competing again! and that 73 was a career low for me (at Ball State)!!

-- Posted by bsugolfer on Sun, Mar 1, 2009, at 7:40 PM

Rachael, To be # 1 on a college team is a credit to your hard work. I know you'll enjoy every minute of it, that's quite an opportunity you have made for yourself.

As for your Dad, as I read that story, I got a visual on his running through the airport and I'm pretty sure that you should save your money.

Good luck with your spring season and hope to see you at The Phil.

-- Posted by simmons on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 4:11 AM

Re: Airport Running-

Been there done that - hope to never again.

Not a pretty site for my part. Then security says I need to go to that special room, the one you do not want to go to.

-- Posted by gary g on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 8:53 PM


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