Today as I attempted to fly home from Las Vegas to Raleigh which will be quickly followed by getting in my car and driving two days to Texas, I had one of those opportunities that you don't really want but get to have to learn a lesson. Often this is not my first time to learn the lesson at hand but I like to have plenty of opportunities to experience whatever it may be that I kick and scream through.
After a week in Vegas marketing myself, taking nursing courses and having a little fun I got up this morning to head home. I woke up early and accomplished a lot this morning. Breakfast, walking and a dollar in the penny machine that I eventually lost but at least it took a while. I was flying back with my roommates from the conference who don't fly as often as I do so they actually like to abide by the "get to the airport at least two hours early" thing, so we did. As we were aware one of the many hurricanes and tropical storms that have been ravaging so many people's lives would potentially alter our plans, we arrived to be told that was in fact true. We were split into three different flights. Mine was already boarding and would be leaving in 30 minutes . . . And I was at bag check and hadn't been through security yet. The panic hit and I rushed as much as I could. I asked the tea agents if they could help me. One girl simply said " go over there." One lady was a little more helpful suggesting I ask those in front of me if I could go ahead. That didn't get me too far but there were some kind people. Some muttering I should have gotten to the airport on time. And it was out of my control.
For some reason my bag got flagged today. Of course. I felt the tears of frustration welling up inside of me. And I want to be clear at this point that I have never had an issue with TSA. I love getting to fly and know it's part of the process. I make a point to smile and and them. This morning ended with a glorious "go fuck yourself" from my mouth to a rude TSA worker. After waiting for my turn to be inquisitioned abut my bag and watching my little bit of time dwindling away a young man bright my bag over and asked if I had any sharps. He spent a good five minutes chatting it up with one coworker then another. Evidently my bag of almonds (that I would very much need due to the lack of time to grab lunch for the flight) were the problem. I attempted to ask while he stood chatting it up with another coworker if he could just grow them away because they weren't worth the time it was taking. In response he got short with me stating it was my fault that I was pushing it to get to my flight. I got to keep my almonds as I ran away with him still speaking horribly to me and again yelling words that make me a little proud.
The good news continued as I saw my gate was downstairs and not nearby. And even better when I realized my trip to the gate involved a tram, another set of escalators and a long hallway. Have fat girl will sprint, in flip flops with a giant bag of swag on her back. I'm sure I provided some entertainment! As I made the turn to the final hall way and noticed my gate was literally the last one I heard a page over head, "Last call for passenger Ivy Fannin to gate D53." I may have considered yelling down the hall in hopes they would hear me . . . "IM COMING!!!" But I made it. I did the walk of shame as the one who was late, the girl with the window seat who was keeping the doors from closing. And THEY wouldn't know that. This plane full of people I didn't know and would likely never see again might be judging me. Such a smart kid and yet yes I think I'm that important sometimes, maybe because I judge a little too much. God help me with that. But that's for another time. The bottom line is it was stressful and not how I planned my trip home. I had been trying to help another nurse with me not stress about it, telling her it was all gonna work out and here I was. I made it to my seat next to a very nice and understand couple of men who listened to my brief explanation so they knew I wasn't just a slacker.
And then the plane sat there for an hour and twenty minutes waiting to be cleared to head to a city getting some outer effects of one of these storms. Keep in mind I have been in Vegas for a week and have little awareness of what storms are happening where.
It was about 15 minutes into the flight when the flight attendant came overhead and asked if there were any medical professionals on the plane. I pushed my "call light " to identify myself and provided them with an electronic copy of my California license because it was way quicker to get to than trying to figure out the Texas one and was escorted to first class where a man had a syncopal episode. He was pale and diaphoretic. And I had little to assess him with. But I did and we got him fixed up. Fortunately it appeared to be a transient event, at least at this point. We have two hours left together but he looked better on reassessment.
In reality all of the medical details and rambling aren't pertinent but what the people in the row behind me said as I exited my row to go assist did. I guess one lady overheard my ramblings to the innocent guys on my row. She said wow I guess there is a reason that she ended up on this flight. Hashtag OUCH! It's true though. I was not supposed to be on this flight. I arrived at its initial take off time to catch my flight and it was delayed. I stressed about making it and the details when I knew better. On a day when 1300 nurses were leaving the city of Las Vegas I was the only one on this plane. The man was not going to die. What happened was easily fixed but I knew how to figure out what was wrong and how to address it. But the real thing I was able to do was to help this man and his wife feel safe. And to help a somewhat frantic flight crew know that it was all going to be okay.
Again, in the grand scheme of my job and the many things that could happen medically to someone I didn't do much. And yet clearly things were being arranged for me to be right where I was, in seat 10F, four rows behind the man who needed medical attention. And yet I will again, stress about the next thing and not trust that God has his hands on my life and those around me. I struggle to think that the details matter at all to him but then there is this.
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