A close call

VANCOUVER, B.C. airport

The day and trip began with near disaster. Our travel agent had told us to check in at the airport at 5:20 a.m. for our 5:50 flight and said no one is even at the airport until 5:30. If you've seen the Lethbridge airport, you could believe this -- it is VERY small. Well, we showed up at 5:18 and find out we should have been there at 4:30! And then the VERY cranky Air Canada ticket agent proceeded to tell us neither our group nor our luggage would likely make the flight. Many scenarios flashed through my head (none of them good). So we just apologized profusely and pleaded and hustled through security and we (just) made the plane. The Air Canada ticket agent came on just as the door was about to close to say our luggage made it too (we'll see... I hope so).

The other surprise was an expensive one... three of our eight bags came in at 53 pounds, and one at 70 (which is the limit for international flights). The Air Canada agent said they were overweight and would be charged a surplus fee. So we had to shell out $400 (!) for the overweight bags... although the Japan Airlines ticket agent said we could probably contest that as they are within international weight limits (and John is at an Air Canada gate trying to do that now). Thank goodness for credit cards -- and I wasn't about to debate with her at that point (although now that we have a four hour layover, there is time to... ).

Anyway.

We made the plane, and the thrill of travel is with us. The kids did great on the short trip to Calgary, but had a harder time on the Calgary-Vancouver leg (Livie and her ears in particular were unhappy). They are exhausted, too -- up at 4:30 and no nap yet (although if they last until we board the Vancouver-Tokyo flight, there is a chance they might get some decent sleep... or else be complete wrecks. One or the other...). We have filled them with food, water, new toys (change purses with yen for their backpacks, little puzzles) and they are now fairly content.

I am so glad we are on the way. All of the build-up and emotional goodbyes would have been hard to have to do all over again (much less trying to make arrangements for pickup, etc., in Sapporo) tomorrow. And despite her crankiness, I am giving great thanks to the grumpy but VERY fast ticket agent in Lethbridge who helped us make our plane, and start our trip.