After our Disney trip, I promised Mal we wouldn't have to fly again until we go to Hawaii in 2020, but the opportunity arose for us to take a quick trip to visit James's mom, and we had enough points for airline tickets so didn't have to pay anything at all, including tax, because we also each had a $15 credit from when our tickets to Florida decreased in price. Yay!
This morning, Mal woke up about an hour earlier than usual, and two hours earlier than he had Monday. It wasn't because he was excited about the trip, because even though he knew it was coming, I haven't been playing it up as he has anxiety about air travel.
He sat up in bed asking to go to Target, so we did. We spent about an hour there, and Mal found a group of tiny squishies that I knew he'd enjoy on the plane.
Then we drove to the Parking Spot and took a shuttle to the airport. He went from being against flying at all to being pretty excited about it. We had some time at the airport, so we stopped for yogurt (I got a smoothie, largely so I'd have a cup for him to pee in on the plane, if the need arose; it did not) then went shopping and read several books in the bookstore.
When it was time to go to the gate, Mal opened a couple of his trip surprises. He was so excited! A guy across the way made the mistake of asking Mal about the character he was playing with, and he got an encyclopedic explanation.
He was itching to board by the time we did, so that was great. I think he just wanted to be in the air and have the whole thing underway. Oh, and I had not retrieved the headphones from James after he took Mal out Sunday night, so Mal did the flight with my hands over his ears on takeoff, and just for a bit when the "brakes" are on full blast to stop the plane at the end. I was super proud of him!
Oh, also, THERE WAS AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPY ON OUR FLIGHT.
A lady from Phoenix had ordered an emotional support dog from a breeder/trainer in the Austin area. Rather than pay $500 to have the poor pup shipped to her in cargo (tear drop; I wish no one would choose that option), the lady got to the Phoenix airport at 3 AM, got to Austin by 8, the breeder brought the dog to the airport, then they just got on the next flight and came home. She said it cost about half the shipping charge. Oh, his name is Moose. My goodness, he was a cutie.
We had to take a shuttle to the remote car rental hub, then it seemed to take a LONG time for us to get our vehicle with "FastBreak" by Budget. I realized I should have just checked in at their regular booth, which had no line but several free agents, instead of going down to the parking lot kiosk. In theory that should have been faster, but they also have people who booked through AAA and AARP go down there, and they had significant paperwork to complete, whereas I'd done everything ahead of time. Mal didn't mind the wait. We can always find something to do.
We'd ordered this sort of "mini booster seat" for me to bring on the trip, and I have to tell you: IT IS A PAIN IN THE BUTT. DO NOT RECOMMEND. Thirty minutes later, we hit the road in Phoenix, just in time for rush hour! It took us about 30 minutes to travel the 7 miles to McDonald's, but Mal was so good. He didn't complain. And the sunset was super amazing, so we had lots to look at.
I had the most greasy, delicious mushroom Swiss Quarter Pounder. It tasted so spot on after a day of snacking on the go. Mal had his usual, and played a while on the PlayPlace.
Then we headed further out of town to Walmart to get a few food items for the room. That drive was the only time Mal complained that it was taking a long time. We'd been away from the house for more than 8 hours by that time.
When we got back in to the car to travel the last 40 minutes, I asked Mal if he wanted radio, no radio, chat, or sleep. He said he was going to go to sleep, and he did. We were super beat by the time we got to the hotel, and the office was locked so I had to call someone to come check us in. But look at what was waiting for us!
We didn't mind waiting at all, and when the gentleman came to assist us, he had a big black dog named Hank who was the friendliest pup. Now I'm all showered and ready for bed. Mal might be going strong for a while, but I've given him a deadline to at least try to go to sleep for the night. We'll see how that goes.
Thankful for a drama-free, if long, travel day. Can't wait to look around the hotel and see Grandma tomorrow!
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