Yesterday, I boarded a turboprop, with six other people, for a short 17-minute hop to Philadelphia. I was on that damn plane for a total of 165 minutes. Ground Stop in Philly due to some really bad weather. While in Ground Stop, one of the six curled a major steamie, with some major aroma. One of those, “been up all night drinking and eating lots of garlic” steamers. He was definitely embarrassed, and apologized. It was awful, but what can you say? Shit happens.

After we touch down in Philly, we waited for a clear gate for another hour due to some dim-witted regulation that states if there is lightning anywhere within about a hundred mile radius (exaggeration), the ground crews can’t work the planes…coming or going. Damn unions I’m sure.

Inside the terminal, it was pure pandemonium…the place was packed…people were pissed…adults screaming, kids crying, and some pushing and shoving. The police were out in force…with dogs. I’ve done a lot of flying in my time, and I can’t remember anything like this. EVERY flight was either delayed or cancelled. Some people had been there over 24 hours. The bars were running out of beer. People were trying to change flights just to get anywhere near their final destination, so they could rent a car and drive home. All the data ports were in use, so I had my wife on the phone in the Brier Patch, sitting at a computer mapquesting directions for these unfortunate souls. My phone was being passed around like a collection plate on Sunday. Good thing I had a full clip.

Two groups of people, one headed for New York, and the other for North Carolina, are gathered at the gate when the plane, which is way late, taxies in. The staff didn’t know which one it was…anticipation…this was the last flight of the day going south, and I had more than my fingers crossed. No way I needed to be stuck in Philly. When the announcement was made the plane would be going down hill, the New York crowd went ballistic. It was not pretty.

Once airborne, we climbed to 27K for the ride home, and weaved between thunder-boomers that topped out at about 40K. The light show was reminiscent of midnight on 12/31/99. Absolutely beautiful, in a scary sort of way. The flight attendant hit the ceiling once, and the drinks were flying, more screaming, and some panic. Damn near knocked her silly, but she recovered and went into “calm these idiots down” mode.

What a day, and what a ride.

By the way, the airline was U.S. Scare.