Indiana

Travel Woes

I recently read an article in the Washington Post about how basic economy ticket holders are experiencing increasing abuse by airlines in an effort to get people to pay higher fares. I saw the piece two days after returning to the US while traveling under those same conditions. I fear that it may work on me.

This is something that has increased over the past few years. You can still find reasonable airfare but you are increasingly subjected to travel conditions that can make for a miserable travel experience. For example, you can’t select your seats and you are generally relegated to less desirable locations within the airplane (e.g. middle seats as well as the back row when you are unable to recline and you are last to disembark). You’re also last to board. They’ve created a zone 8 even for small aircraft to enhance your shame in paying so little for your ticket. I generally embrace boarding last since it translates to less time on the plane, but when you’re traveling with people who have roller bags that need overhead cabin space, it often means that space gets used up and you’ll end up needed to check the carry-ons.

I’m also hearing that they are going to increasingly prevent you from accumulating mileage for the rewards program if you travel as a cheapskate. This is of more concern to me since I have benefited from the perks of the program. 

Some of those inflicted by this torment are people who, like some college students/staff who were on our plane, or like me when I travel for work, have organizations that require them to travel on lowest fare available. And taller/larger people pay the biggest price for the smaller seats.

Anyway, as I travel several thousand miles per year, this is becoming a bigger issue.  We shall see if the resources we have for traveling as a my family will allow for the less painful treatment.

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Indiana

We did, however, manage to get to our destination for our February trip. It’s tough to squeeze in travel to two different parts of the US within a 2-week period – the amount of time allotted to us given the girls’ school vacation. But as I experienced with the passing of my father last year, time with family is valuable. It’s just more complicated and expensive for us than it is for most people.

shooting hoops with the kids

Travel from east to west tends to present fewer problems with jet lag for our family than traveling west to east. As such, we jumped right into the routines of visiting family in southern Indiana. The weather was cold but not uncomfortable, at least not for me. We did receive a small amount of snow, but it didn’t last even a half-day.

at least we had a little snow

The visit went more or less as anticipated. Church with grandma. Morning workouts. Afternoon tea with whoever was around on that particular day. Family dinners most evenings. Kiran and I needed to allocate time for her schoolwork, so we took advantage of the local library. I do love libraries, but they seem to be struggling to stay alive.

studying in the library - while on vacation...

On one afternoon we went to a massive indoor high school track and field event in Louisville. It was impressive to say the least. There were schools from all over Kentucky and each of the running events had nearly a dozen heats. The event officials were efficient in allowing very little time between each heat so that hundreds and hundreds of kids were able to compete throughout the course of the day. We went because our niece was competing in the 200m. She easily won her heat which is always satisfying.

high school sports are on another level than when I was competing

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We also went to a performance at a place called Derby Dinner. We have been going there about once a year for several years. This year we saw a play that I knew very little about called The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It’s a quirky play that was briefly on Broadway and was nominated for a couple of Tony Awards. I had heard of it a long time ago but had never seen it.

evening out with the family

It’s one of those plays that is entertaining for all ages, particularly for a play that takes place entirely on a single set. It’s cleverly written and the local cast was pretty impressive. An unusual aspect of the show, apparently no matter where it is performed, is that four real audience members are invited on stage to compete in the spelling bee alongside the six young characters. It adds a little improv to the show.

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The Duchess

Prior to leaving on our vacation, I received a request from the UK embassy to participate in hosting a VIP visit so Mogadishu. In fact, they referred to it as a VVIP visit and they couldn’t even communicate to me the identity of the proposed visitor. As preparations moved forward, we couldn’t resist in speculating who the visitor would be. But with the information provided, it was increasingly clear that it was going to be the Duchess of Edinburgh, sister-in-law of the King. In addition to working with my team to host a visit to one of our health facilities, I was invited to participate in a dinner that was hosted in her honor. The problem? I would be in Indiana. Bummer.

It’s the second opportunity I have had to meet a member of the royal family. A few years ago, I was invited to participate in an event hosted by (then) Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. He has always been keen on fighting climate change and our organization, with its English connections and respected work in this area, obtained an invitation to an event that would “possibly” take place. As it happened, I had a Somali staff who was already going to be in London at the time and, given the uncertainty around the event, I put her name forward instead of mine. It didn’t seem to make sense for me to fly to London without knowledge if or when the event would take place.

As you might guess, the event did indeed happen, and my colleague promptly shared the photo of her shaking hands with the future king. I’m now 0/2 in meeting royals.