Homecoming??? Pt 2 continued

March 20, 12:35pm

We arrived at the terminal at 7:45am.

As soon as we get inside I spot the family of five from yesterday.

WTF are they doing here??

Well, it turns out when yesterdays plane arrived there weren't 10 seats like we'd been told, there were 6. Which meant that after the 2 Cat1 guys got on there weren't enough seats for the family of 5. They were out. The family of 4 with the second Category 2 spot was smart enough to wait around so they were in. Lucky them!!

What time is it? I ask Kiyomi.

8:45.

8:45!! Weren't they supposed to do rollcall at 8:15?

We look at the monitors and notice the screens aren't working. Sensing our confusion, the girl sitting next to us leans in and tells us that a generator is down somewhere and because of it our terminal doesn't have accurate flight info. This means that not only do we not know anything, but the people working here who are supposed to know everything don't know anything.

Just relax Nicole... The generator won't be down forever... Wait it out...

The room held the same familiar faces from yesterday as well as an additional 10 or so people trying to get to Washington. Within minutes of hearing about the generator the voice on the microphone starts calling for the Washington people to check in.

Things are going smoothly for them. I reassure myself. We'll be okay.

The Washington people all get their bags checked and receive their boarding passes. Now they just have to wait to be called to the gate.

Then, the voice on the microphone- I regret to inform you that flight number ### heading to Washington had an early departure. If you are holding a boarding pass for that flight please make your way to the counter to retrieve your bags. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

What did he just say?? I asked myself. Then, as if he heard me, the voice on the mic came back- I repeat, flight number ### heading to Washington has had an early departure. If you are holding a boarding pass for that flight please make your way to the counter to retrieve your bags. Again, sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Confused as hell, the passengers- or ex passengers- make their way to the counter. Then about 2mins later the voice on the mic comes back- Passengers holding boarding passes for flight number ### heading to Washington please make your way to the gate for departure.

What!?

Before the man on the mic had a chance to mess with their emotions again the passengers- turned ex passengers- turned passengers all grabbed their bags and hauled ass to the gate, leaving us, the Hawaii folks, in their dust.

We sit for another 20-30mins with no word from the people behind the counter.

Finally, the voice on the microphone- Will all Category 1 travelers standing by for flight number ### heading to Hawaii pls come to the counter.

No one moves.

Will all Category 2 travelers standing by for flight number ### heading to Hawaii pls come to the counter. Then, just like yesterday, they begin calling people by name. First they call the family of 5. Then they call us. One by one they call up everyone from yesterday it looked like we would all make it.

We checked our bags, received our boarding passes, and made it through security and to the gate without incident. Once at the gate, Marcus and I allow ourselves to relax and crack a few smiles. After about 20mins a man in uniform comes to the gate area and asks if he can have our attention.

Ladies and Gentleman, there is going to be a delay. The plane you are scheduled to travel on (plane A) can not get here until it refuels another plane (plane B). Unfortunately plane B is having trouble and can't be refueled but don't worry, it shouldn't take long.

After he leaves Marcus and I overhear an older Japanese man say that the layover in Yokota (mainland Japan) is supposed to be 17 hours long. Unphased I tell Marcus, That's ridiculous- I'll believe that shit when I'm there and that's what they tell us.

20mins later, the man in uniform comes back. Ladies and Gentleman plane B has had more trouble than they anticipated. We're not sure how much longer the delay will be. Just sit tight, we're doing everything we can for you. Oh and by the way, if you're wondering about the layover in Yokota, the plane will be on the ground for 24hrs.

24hrs? You have GOT to be sh*tting me!!!

Now up until this point I had been working really hard at trying to relax and just go with the flow. But my patience was being tested. What happened next was so unexpected Marcus swears it only happened because the Universe decided the journey couldn't be over, my blog family needed more good stuff to read about...

The uniformed man comes back- Ladies and Gentleman, unfortunately your flight has been delayed 24hours. Please leave and come back tomorrow morning at 0800.

So after some rumbling and grumbling we leave the gate, but not before being informed that this 24hour delay does nothing to change the 24hour layover in Yokota- we'd have to deal with that too.

Marcus and I gather up the girls, our 3 bags, 2 carryons, 2 carseats and 1 stroller and head out. I was NOT happy. I mean, I thought we'd made it! We were so close!! If only the other family of 4 from yesterday had left and we had stayed we would be in Hawaii. That was a good flight too- It left when it was supposed to and it was direct. But no, we have to deal with this 24hr delay, and a 24hour layover in Yokota- What the hell is there to do in Yokota? We've never been there! We don't know anyone there! Uggghhh!!!

Well Marcus and I say screw that flight and screw Yokota. There's a different flight going to Hawaii tomorrow that has a layover in Guam. There are ~20 tentative seats and we're the first people on the list. The layover is still 24hours but Marcus has friends and a cousin in Guam and if we're gonna be somewhere for a day we'd rather be there.

So the journey continues.

Here's to taking our destiny into our own hands and hoping it was the right decision.
Wish us luck!