December 2000
Dana learns to fly!!!
The first week of December I had to attend a business meeting in Dallas, Texas and to make matters worse, the meeting was scheduled for Friday of that week. Since I had planned on attending the monthly CLCC meeting in Minneapolis and I’m a North Dakota girl, this was going to put a big crimp in my plans. To add to my dilemma, I also had to go on a road trip for the first part of the week. I needed to take a look at my options.
Option 1. I could fly from home Thursday, attend the Dallas meeting on Friday, catch a late flight back home after the meeting and then drive over 200 miles Saturday and attend the CLCC meeting. Then turn around and make the trip back home on Sunday. Just thinking about that made me tired.
There has to be a better plan. Now let me see. Hmmmm!!!!!
Option 2. Dana wants her weekend out and I have to attend the meeting in Dallas. What if I put the two together? The road trip could end in Minneapolis and I could fly from there to Dallas on Thursday. I could fly back on Saturday and attend the CLCC meeting. I could then drive home on Sunday. Now that sounds more relaxing.
I’ll have to haul all of Dana’s things with me on the trip, but what the heck. Now that I think about it, it would be a great time to meeting some of our Texas sisters. All I need now is to find out if someone in Dallas wants to show this North Dakota girl the sites. I like this plan.
With the help of the Net, I sent messages to the Dallas Tri-ess chapter and a group called the Metroplex CD Club.
Jan, a member of the Metro group, was the only one responding to my request for a guide and companionship. So the two of us started making plans for a night out on the town. Figuring the meeting, I was attending, would last until 5pm, I knew that I wouldn’t be ready until at least 7:30. (All right, I can hear some of you saying that I take forever to get ready and still look like 9 miles of bad road) At any rate we made plans to meet at her house at 8:00 Friday evening.
Monday brings the usual paper work that needs finishing at the office. Tuesday, I drive to Duluth, with stops in Brainerd and Carlton. Wednesday is spent in Superior and much to my pleasant surprise; I finish early and head for the Cities after lunch.
As I drive down I-35 I remember the outlet mall at Tanger. Isn’t there an Elizabeth Store in that mall? I could use a nice pantsuit for Dallas. Stop number one. Since I was dressed in the male mode and couldn’t try anything on I left empty handed.
The next stop was my hotel in the Cities and time to catch up on paper work and phone calls, but I keep thinking about that pantsuit and come to think about it, Macy’s is having a big sale. (As usual.) A phone call later, Jennifer and Dana have plans to meet at the Mall of America for dinner and shopping at Macy’s. Again I come away empty handed with regard to that pantsuit, but Jennifer and I have a great time any way. We stop for drinks at the Hilton North and are joined but some guy that looks a lot like Katrina with facial hair. I shutter at the memory. She is such a dear friend and it saddens my heart to see her in such a state.
Thursday, it’s back to what they pay me for and on to Dallas in the afternoon. Dinner and socializing bring a close to the evening.
Friday, we have our meeting and Dana can’t wait until it’s over. She is looking forward to her time in the sun. After the meeting and the good-byes I head for my room and my transformation. An hour and a half later, (no laughing out there, perfection takes time) Dana is ready for a night on the town. Look out Red Neck Texas cause here I come.
Thanks to wonderful directions from Jan, I find her house with little problem. Then we’re on our way, with her at the wheel I might add. At least one of us knows where we’re going. First stop is Sue Ellen’s for a couple of drinks and just getting to know each other. Jan’s a super nice person and a wonderful tour guide. She reminds me of Kate, tall slender and very well dressed. I would have loved to have that pantsuit I’d been looking for, but my slacks and blouse will have to work.
After Sue Ellen’s we head for the Reunion Tower. It’s a revolving club high above the Hyatt in downtown Dallas. It’s first class all the way, reminds me of the Seattle Space Needle. We were treated no differently then any one else and that included walking through the Hyatt lobby and riding the glass elevators with 12 other people up and down the Tower. This just reinforces my belief that we are the only ones putting limits on ourselves. The only reaction we got was when a couple was walking towards us and the guy winked at us. Another CD?
From the Hyatt we headed to Buddy’s II to see if any other sisters were out. We did meet a girl from rural Idaho. The local girls seem to be moving one place ahead of us. After the witching hour arrived, we head to a coffee bar for a little something before calling it a night. While we were there, a group of (GG) girls at the next table seemed to want to have us join them. I never did figure out weather they wanted to mother us, help us or what. It sure seemed to me they were just welcoming us as girls. Maybe without the effects of drink their attitude would have been different, but it was great feeling to have someone reach out to us in friendship.
After coffee, it was time to call it an evening, all good things must come to an end. I’d like to give Jan, a very special Thank You for showing me such a wonderful time in Dallas. Believe me, it’s a do again.
My flight back to the Cities was set to arrive in Minneapolis at 5:30pm. As I figure it, after getting my bags, picking up my car and driving to the CLCC meeting it’s going to be 6:30 at the earliest and where I’m I going to change? If Dana is going to the meeting I guess she will also have to fly. Now that’s a big step. Well, you only live once and what about those limits.
After dressing and packing, I haul all my things to the rental car that I had, with stops at the front deck to have my parking ticket validated. No problems. Now I have to return the rental car, with a stop for fuel, and again I have no problems. In fact the shuttle bus driver helps me load my bags on the bus and helps me unload them at the check in.
The skycap was the only person that had any kind of reaction and that was when I had to show him my ID. I loved how his head jerked as he took a double take of my Drivers License, but even that didn’t change the way he treated me. He still addressed me as, Ma’am. Next stop was security and again no problem. With all this positive reinforcement I can’t think of any reason not to fly more often.
While waiting for my flight, I stop at a sandwich shop, on the concourse, for a bite to eat and again no problem. I have been treated just like anyone else all day long and I love it. When my flight is called I have no problems walking onto that plane and I must say it brought me great pleasure to be treated so well.
After arriving in the Cities and getting my luggage, I proceeded to the parking shuttle area. The driver was so great. He helped me load my luggage and we had a great chat on the way to my car. He even loaded the bags in my vehicle for me and always addressing me as Ma’am.
I arrived at the meeting in time to have a quick bite to eat and say Hi to all my friends before the meeting began. What a wonderful day.
And that’s the story of how Dana learned to Fly. Remember; don’t let those walls keep you from enjoying life. Hopefully the next time I travel to Dallas I’ll be able to meet some of the Tri-ess girls.
Dana Ann
ND-4676-B