My trip to Tennessee was an experience of a life time. I went on plane, BY MYSELF, for the first time, (and I have only been on a plane once before in my life and I hardly remember that time...) It was the longest amount of time I had been away from my parents, it's the farthest east I have ever been in the US, and many other new experiences. I had such a great time, and I will never forget my first trip to Tennessee! I hope you enjoy detailed stories because I am going to start from beginning to end! Here is the first part of my great adventure! Here we go!
I woke up on June 26th, got dressed, ate breakfast, triple checked my suitcase, backpack, and fiddle case to make sure I had everything and that I didn't have any knives or bombs....because that would have been really bad. I was pretty nervous to go on the plane because I don't really like things that are unfamiliar to me but, I knew I had to do it sooner or later...So when a friend came to pick me up and take me to the airport, I picked up my stuff and headed out.
We got to the Airport, checked my suitcase, and got my boarding passes. Lucky for me, A family friend was able to go through security with me because she has the "hook ups" for a fake boarding pass. This was very helpful for me because she pretty much directed my every move. I had everything ready for security. I had taken tips from everybody and put all my liquids/toiletries in their own bag, my diabetes supplies in another, and my food and things to do on the plane free floating in my backpack. I wore my toms so I could just take my shoes off really fast. (because I didn't want to wear my foot flops) You could say I was totally prepared for security. When I got there I asked Brittany (The family friend) if I should take my stuff out and put in the tray. She just said, "nah...you can just leave it in your backpack and just throw it in the tray." So, that's what I did...Forget about all the work I did to make sure they didn't pull me aside and arrest me or something....I just threw it in there with my shoes and my wallet and that was that. I put my fiddle up there hesitantly and walked along and asked someone what I need to do because I have and insulin pump (due to my diabetes....just in case you didn't know...ha ha) She took me aside and I had to go through a different body scanner thing but, this was WAY easier then my first time flying...they didn't have to wand me or pat me down.....that was a relief. So, I made it through security, no problems what so ever! Britt and I walked to my gate and I got a soda from the vending machine and went to the bathroom. We sat down and waited for them to call zone two. "Now boarding zone two, now boarding zone two." I heard them call. I walked right up there while everyone stared at me with my fiddle on my shoulder and my music note backpack, gave the lady my boarding pass, and I boarded the plane.
I get on the plane and I'm looking for my seat, "Seat 9E....9E, 9E.....okay there is row 7....8....9! Okay..there is A, B, C...oh, okay 9E...there is my seat." I said in my head. I looked up at the overhead, then looked at the people behind me that were stopped because of me. I asked if they could help me get my fiddle up there because there was no way I was going to reach due to my shortness. A nice gentlemen helped me get it in the overhead across the aisle from my seat and I sat down. I wasn't quite sure what to do with my backpack so I set it on my lap and waited for someone else in my row to get there. Once I figured out where to put my backpack and the other two passengers came, I finally settled down a little and I waited for take off. I took a picture and documented on Instagram, then I turned off my phone and before I knew it, I arrived in Denver and Colorado!
As soon as I got off the plane I called my mom and told her I made it. I was looking for my next gate. Lucky for me again, my gate was basically right next to the gate I arrived at. It took me a minute to find it...but I was just oblivious I guess...(But in my defense...there were signs covering it...) I went to the bathroom again and went and waited at my next gate. As soon as I got there, the plane had just arrived so I had to wait for everyone to exit the plane, and they had to clean it and all that, then again I heard, "Now boarding zone two, now boarding zone two." This time there was a line, whereas before, I walked right on. As I was standing in line there were two ladies behind me and one asked me what I had in my case. I told her it was a fiddle and that I was going to a fiddle camp in Nashville and all that jazz. She told me good luck and as we were waiting in line, I could hear her recognizing some of the stickers on my case and talking to her friend about them. Obviously these ladies were familiar with Bluegrass and some of the festivals around. As I found my seat again (and this time I totally felt like a pro...."Yeah....No big deal...I fly all the time with my fiddle....it's pretty cool...." as I said to myself in me head.) So I get to my seat and there is no where to put my fiddle in any of the overheads near by....I am looking around hoping someone will help me. (didn't really feel like a pro anymore...) The flight attendant finally helped me out and said that it would have to come down a few rows. (By the way if you feel talking about where my fiddle went in the plane is unnecessary, may I remind you....My blog is called A girl & Her FIDDLE...just a friendly reminder :D) I get back to my seat and put my backpack where it needs to go and I was off to Nashville. Now, just to share a little bit of my actual plane riding experience....the ride from Utah to Denver was short and sweet....sorta. There was a little bit of turbulence and it made me a little sick...but it wasn't too bad. The ride from Denver to Nashville was a little bit longer. They served the drinks, pretzels, peanuts, etc...but, I didn't take anything...I tried not to move at all....(Yeah...I guess you could say I was a little nervous...) I listened to my iPod and just thought about getting there.
Coming into Nashville was kinda scary....there was thunder and lightning.....and LOTS of Turbulence....not very fun....(but it was kinda cool to see the storm from the sky....) We finally landed. I was getting so excited! "EEEEEEPPPP! I'M IN FREAKING NASHVILLE!" I said in my head. As people were standing up I was beginning to freak out because people were already in the aisle and I still had to go back and get my fiddle....and I wasn't exactly sure how far back it was...(plus I couldn't see it in the overhead from the ground.) The two ladies that stood behind me in line were also behind my row and they noticed I was getting a little antsy...so they told me they would help me out. The one lady shouted, "There is a violin case back there that this young lady needs!" Now everybody is staring at me and I'm just standing there...Someone found it and got it down...and then everyone passed it down the aisle over there heads to me.....no big deal....just everyone in "zone two" of the plane is staring at me....no big deal...I finally got off the plane and followed the sings that said, "To Baggage Claim" On the way there, I saw old signs that were advertising "Bill Monroe at the Opry", and "Flatt and Scruggs" How cool is that!!! They certainly don't have things like that in Salt Lake! When I got to the baggage claim there was a mural advertising Martin guitars!!! Again, you just don't see that at home! Nashville is so freaking cool! :D I called my mom, and waited for my bag and lucky for me, mine was the first one out! I grabbed it off the baggage claim and I headed out to the pick up area, found the "Frontier" section, held out my fiddle prominently like the email said to do, and a few minutes later, Megan Lynch (camp administrator/Fiddle extraordinaire) pulled up in her old, big, cream, Mercedes, (like the email said to look for)
and the real adventure began.
Coming into Nashville was kinda scary....there was thunder and lightning.....and LOTS of Turbulence....not very fun....(but it was kinda cool to see the storm from the sky....) We finally landed. I was getting so excited! "EEEEEEPPPP! I'M IN FREAKING NASHVILLE!" I said in my head. As people were standing up I was beginning to freak out because people were already in the aisle and I still had to go back and get my fiddle....and I wasn't exactly sure how far back it was...(plus I couldn't see it in the overhead from the ground.) The two ladies that stood behind me in line were also behind my row and they noticed I was getting a little antsy...so they told me they would help me out. The one lady shouted, "There is a violin case back there that this young lady needs!" Now everybody is staring at me and I'm just standing there...Someone found it and got it down...and then everyone passed it down the aisle over there heads to me.....no big deal....just everyone in "zone two" of the plane is staring at me....no big deal...I finally got off the plane and followed the sings that said, "To Baggage Claim" On the way there, I saw old signs that were advertising "Bill Monroe at the Opry", and "Flatt and Scruggs" How cool is that!!! They certainly don't have things like that in Salt Lake! When I got to the baggage claim there was a mural advertising Martin guitars!!! Again, you just don't see that at home! Nashville is so freaking cool! :D I called my mom, and waited for my bag and lucky for me, mine was the first one out! I grabbed it off the baggage claim and I headed out to the pick up area, found the "Frontier" section, held out my fiddle prominently like the email said to do, and a few minutes later, Megan Lynch (camp administrator/Fiddle extraordinaire) pulled up in her old, big, cream, Mercedes, (like the email said to look for)
and the real adventure began.
