And so it begins...

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Happy? Stressed? Excited? Tired? For some reason all these emotions coincide when it's the first day of a trip.

We were awake at 3:30, left the house at 4:15 ready for the 6:30 flight. About halfway to the airport, I (Ania) started thinking about how we could have left without any luggage and still have done ok with purchasing items along the way (if money grew on trees of course). Yet the one item we likely would not be able to access up north - even if we were able to get a hold of our medical team over the weekend - is the correct dosage of Elizabeth's synthetic hormone. So even though I was sure she did not forget, I thought I would ask - and the subsequent answer meant we had to turn right around. Chris did a fabulous job of getting us home and then to the airport as efficiently as possible, but even though we arrived exactly at 5:45, we waited in line at baggage check-in for five minutes and then were quite firmly informed 'You are FIVE minutes late; you have missed your flight opportunity because you are TARDY. The next flight is at 12:30'.

Sigh. A not-so-ideal start but at least Sami was holding up impressively well.

Fortunately, the lady who rebooked our flight was sympathetic to our situation and found a way to get us on a plane to Calgary within the half hour with a transfer from Calgary to Winnipeg. She even gave us a 50% discount. So for $315 extra, worse seats, delayed schedule, and elevated cortisol levels, we learned the tough lesson that 5 minutes truly can make a difference. We are definitely leaving triple the time cushion in future travels!

In spite of the hectic start, we are still overwhelmed with human kindness. The fact that we are on this trip at all is testament to human consideration and generosity. The helpful airport staff who rearranged flight seats so we could sit together. The people who shared our flight and willingly changed  spots, kind words, and laughs. The flight attendants who celebrated Sami's absolute, pure joy over being in a plane and presented him with a signed airplane brochure to commemorate his first flight. Chris's chance run-in with an old friend at the Calgary airport. Our wonderful driver and helpful staff at the Fort Garry Hotel. And the kind staff at Manitoba Museum who made our day by offering us free planetarium access for an incredible show on the Marvels of the Universe.

Historic Fort Garry Hotel in downtown Winnipeg is stunning. We thoroughly enjoyed the older architecture and updated luxuries, not to mention the impeccable service. This was the site for multiple weddings that evening which meant stunning gowns and high spirits. Now we are all the more looking forward to Michelle and Marcus's upcoming gala wedding! To top off the night, the dinner menu at Fort Garry was second-to-none and we finished it all off with delectable desserts.

The Manitoba Museum was likewise beyond our expectations. It had brilliantly constructed exhibits that provided plenty of information but didn't drag on (a good thing with Sami). All details were meticulously arranged for a beautiful outcome with seamless transitions. We took many pictures of the replica of Nonsuch for Grandpa David and enjoyed the ingenious layout of centuries of human evolution in western and northern Canada. We had a memorable visit and are glad we went!

Great moments of the day: Sami exuding pure joy at the airport and Elizabeth's attention to the unique architecture around Winnipeg, a city Chris described 'Large city with small town feel'. We are grateful for days like these; lessons learned, and countless reminders of the awesomeness of the human spirit.

Until next time,

Ania and Elizabeth, of ACES