Going Through Our Own Little Hell at JFK-- Part 5

This was definitely shaping up to be the longest, hardest, meanest hour of my young, er, somewhat old life.

But, the key here was that we still had a chance to make that plane, even with all the distance, delays, security checks and waits. All we had to do now was make it to the gate. One last obstacle and we're home, well, almost.

Slide right on by, right? Not so. As it turned out, the gate couldn't have been any farther from the check-in point. It was at the v-e-r-y end of the airport, last gate. Very last gate. And that considering that the international terminal was about as far away from where we were now that you could get.


THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

There were escalators, moving sidewalks, and straightaways to run-walk. The lady pushing Mom really earned her tip that day. She was running also. I ran on ahead, figuring if I could get to he gate, I could get them to wait (since I still did not know if they knew we were coming).

Got there with a minute to spare. I was out of breath and really sweating, but, by golly, we were there. WE HAD MADE THE PLANE!!!! Tutu would be so happy.

I was all smiles as I sat down. We had made it through hell, but we were on our way out.

But wait a minute. The plane left the gate at the appointed time, but then there was a line of planes ahead of us waiting to take off. We were FINALLY AIRBORNE FIFTY MINUTES LATER. Just one more little parting gift from JFK.

Fun and Games in the Big Apple. --RoadDog