Lift off...

A 12 hour flight ahead of us.  We thought we were organized and ready, but once at the ATL airport, things seemed a little chaotic. 

Richard was so kind to help us with all of our “junk”.   He hails a sky cap at first sighting.  Awesome!   Then we head to the terminal.  That's when I realize I forgot Pali’s frozen water bottles  in Marishyl’s freezer.  Good thing we purchased 5 bottles!  2 were in our checked bag and 1 for Sabbia.     Hopefully the crew of delta will refill if needed.   

The sky cap helps Scott put the crate together.  Richard takes Pali outside the terminal since she’s not a service dog.   I go fill up the 2 water bottles.  Atom sleeps in his stroller.  Dog in crate, let’s go.   We check in.  We were the first in line, yet somehow all these people end up pushing Makai and I out of the way while the agent is helping us so they can load their luggage.   There are 12 different loading zone's, why ours?  I turn around to get paperwork from Scott.  I don't know what’s happening but it looks like Scott doesn’t know what to do but the sky cap does.  I see the skycap adhereing the appropriate stickers and forms while Scott chats to Richard and the skycap.   Mental note to self:  Add to skycap’s tip fund.  6 pieces of luggage is loaded.  The sky cap is good.  He has taken care of all luggage and both animals.  Pali's crate looks set.  

It's around 830 pm.  Boarding is at 930.  Wow.  We have been doing this for almost an hour.  Scott still has to return the rental car.  Richard takes atom and pushes him around.  Scott goes to return the rental car while I’m taking care of  Pali.  I head to the back where I have to bring Pali out so they can xray her crate.   Sky cap is still with me.  He asks the Delta rep when the dog will be taken down.  "There is a sweet little boy wanting to make sure his buddy won’t get lost."   Wow this guy is great.   Mental note to self:  tip dude again.

"The woman at the counter said whenever someone comes down.  You know how it is."  He said who’s down there.  She said mckenzie.  He said do you mind if I take the dog to mckenzie.  This little boy will be upset if something happened to his pooch.  Delta rep:  go ahead, you know what to do.

So I take out money.  Without counting how much I gave the dude, because I kept adding 20’s to my pocket, it ended up being $120 tip.   Pali better be on that flight and she better be in good condition!