Sunday morning we set out for the airport, on an adventure 2 time zones away. Traveling with a hyperactive 6 year old can be challenging, so can traveling with someone who has flight anxiety, or with a 73 year old parent.

This trip was all 3, and the combination of a 3 hour flight followed by a 4 hour drive.

When we arrived in Colorado, navigating the airport was complicated by the fact no one had registered our mother for wheel chair assistance upon arrival. And when the guy showed up he just booked it with disregard to the fact that we have a ton of bags that should have been loaded all over the wheelchair or the fact that we were practically dragging a kid along. We got less than half way to the baggage claim and I told my sister that I’d trade her my water bottle for Finn.

She was confused but obliged. I told Finn to stand on a chair and spread his feet because I was going to put him on my shoulders. I already hand my backpack on my back his backpack and my sister’s bag on one arm and I was steadying him with the free arm.

I squatted down putting my head between his knees and stood up grabbing his hand to help him keep his balance. We walked like that to the first elevator, and to the team, and then to another elevator, where I had him climb down the side of my free arm. We eventually made it to the luggage claim. But the guy pushing the wheelchair didn't stick around once he realized we didn't know what car rental company we needed to go to. We didn't even need him, we would have been better of with just the wheelchair.

When we picked up the car, the navigation screen had blacked out, so we had to swap vehicles. In the process I inadvertently left my Skullcandy headphones in the driver's door pocket and didn't realize it til I got to the hotel some 5 hours later.

I'll call later this morning to see if they are still in the vehicle or were turned in. By some weird chance of intuition I took a picture of the license plate of both vehicles. It feels like a long shot, but it's worth the attempt.

The sights were well worth having to drive 4 hours after a 3 hour flight.