Before leaving Tucson, I'd asked the van driver for the off-airport parking, if they had a handicap van to pick us up, so I didn't have to leave Mom sitting at the airport with the luggage. She said, "Sure we do...just call this special number when you get back." So, I did. The man I called said, "Ooops! Yes, we DO have a handicap van, but I don't know how to use it. We've had it for a year, but we've never had anyone ask for it. I'd have to have someone come take my place here and then come get you. Might take 10 minutes." I said, "No problem...we'll be out on the center island, waiting." He came. Tried to lower the wheelchair lift. Couldn't figure it out. Apologized and asked, "Would you mind if we left your mom here with the luggage while I run you to your car. Then you can come back and get her."
Well...what could I say. The trouble was, we had to stop and pick up a few other folks on the way. I finally got my car, after hearing the driver apologize profusely...claiming that I was teaching him that he needed to do some training on the use of the wheelchair van and that he'd be sure to do that during the next week. He also told me that he was NOT a driver, but was in fact, the personnel manager. LOL
I drove the car back to the airport, and then realized the real predicament we'd created. The area where we left Mom, was where the commercial vans picked people up. (Center island) The sign said, "DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT COMMERCIAL PERMIT OR YOU WILLLLL BE FINED!"
OOPS!
I debated....and then I set my jaw and drove right in there. I wasn't about to leave Mom out there any longer. I pulled up and jumped out and said, "MOM...just bear with me...we have to be FAST! I'm about to get a ticket. I'm VERY illegal."
Mind you, this was before my husband told me that I should have just calmed down and demanded that the airport provide me an easy place to pick her up. I rushed Mom and her chair to the car door....got her in, and looked out of the corner of my eye and said, "Here he comes, Mom. The cop is coming to ticket me!"
As he approached and started to talk, I purposely did NOT have eye-contact with him...I just kept loading things. I said, "Hey, it's not MY fault. That darn company told us to be here and they left us high and dry and I had no other choice so go talk to them."
Cop said, "No, Mam. YOU talk to them. I'll have to ticket you."
I said, "Well Sir, I'm not going to be here long enough for you to do that...." as I THREW and I mean THREW the wheelchair in the trunk. Heck, I think I folded it and threw it in there all in one motion!!!! When I looked back, I saw a man from another company grabbing the commode box and suitcase and saying, "HERE, let me help you." He threw them in the car, and then, the policeman picked up a suitcase and HE threw it in.
I said, "Sir, you don't have to do THAT?"
He said, "Oh yes I do, Mam. We have to get you outta here FAST!"
And so...I was outta there so fast...you wouldn't have believed it! LOL Mom and I were laughing all the way home.
