MistressDarkArt
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First off, I have to say that Huck is the most patient, tireless man I've ever known, and the best problem solver. I get pretty anxious when out of my little berg, and can be a mean grumpy bitch in this instance. I'd filled him in ahead of time about this so he knew what he was getting into. Lesser men would have taken it personally or backed out. Though under the weather for the first several days, Huck just knocked himself out from start to finish making it easier and fun for me.
Getting There
Lightening really did strike twice. 
We left the Central Coast at 4 am to make a 10 am flight out of San Jose. Of course, one of the cats got out as we were loading the car. After 30 minutes of fruitless searching in the dark, we had to go. I texted my tenant to look out for the cat and let him back in, then crossed my fingers. Huck made me a nice comfy bed in the back of the car so I could be comfortable and catch a few more zzzzzs. On the way up, I saw my first sunrise in 20 years (not a morning person).
When we got to the airport, my tenant replied the errant kitty was safely back in his cathouse so I could relax. The flight was on time. A nice agent checked us though, and I got expedited security (Huck got the pat-down). Things were looking good. At LAX, the flight to Maui was on time and we had just the right layover to catch a nice lunch and get to our gate.
As we boarded the plane for the long leg (little did we know, HOW long!), we fist-bumped at how well United was doing today and settled in for the flight west. Several hours in and about half-way there, the call came over the intercom: 'Ladies and gentlemen, if there is a licensed doctor or nurse on board may we please have your assistance in the back of the aircraft.'
Fortunately there was a nurse to assist, but after spending some time on the phone with AirMed, we knew we would have to turn around. Even though we were at the half way point, it was still faster with a tailwind to fly to San Francisco for an emergency landing. The pilot goosed that bird to 650 kts. It was pretty exciting watching and feeling the whole plane shake. All runways had been cleared, and he came in hot with just the slightest bump at touchdown. Paramedics came aboard to rush the poor lady to a medical facility.
We were held at SFO for 5 hours while another crew was sought. At least we could wander around the airport, and United gave everyone a $7 meal voucher. It was enough for the clam chowder I wanted. I set up my trusty sheet and pillow on the floor, did some restorative yoga, caught up on some phone calls, and eventually we were on our way with fresh crew.
We lost 3 hours flying west, but still didn't make it into Kahului airport until 2 am, 27 hours after leaving the Central Coast. The rental car agency stayed open late to accommodate us, and soon we were on our way in a brand new Spark with 7 miles on it.
Getting Home
As luck would have it, we left Kahului the night the computers/towers went down at LAX. Our American Airlines flight was 2 hours and 40 minutes delayed now leaving at 12:40 am, which meant we would miss our connection to San Jose where the car was in long term parking. I'll get to the fun stuff in the 'being there' part of the report, but suffice to say by then I was wrung out and bitchy as hell. I wouldn't have blamed Huck if he left me at the airport to fend for myself. The agents worked and worked to find us a connection, but couldn't get us out of LAX for San Jose until 4 pm the next day. Resourceful Huck got them to comp a rental car out of LA, and drove me home so I got in about the same time I would have if everything had gone on schedule. Kudos to him and the patient agents that had to endure the wrath of a full flight's worth of disgruntled travelers.
We breezed through security (even with my huge bottles of sunscreen). I forgot my fanny pack on the belt and headed toward the gate on the escalator. I turned to see Huck behind me on the ground floor, waving my fanny pack, and alarmed the hell out of security personnel by turning around and flying down the stairs. After explaining what happened to the nice officer, he escorted Huck and I back up to the gate and Huck diffused the situation further by making a joke that he must do this with all the pretty ladies. 
Near the gate Huck found me a massage chair and I finally started to relax. I met a fellow yogi and we shared my sheet to practice some asanas as we got acquainted. It was bright spot during the wait. On the plane, we got exit row seats and I had enough room in front to set up my bed on the floor as we flew. When I woke up, the sun was shining, we were 1/2 hour away, and the stewardess was serving some refreshing orange juice.
Luck was now on our side. As we headed north on the 405, a CHP started spinning donuts right behind us to stop traffic on the freeway. We never learned what had happened, but for once, we were ahead of the trouble and continued an uneventful ride home. I was never so happy to pull into my driveway as I was that day. My journey was finished, but Huck still had to drive to San Jose to get his car out of storage, then on to SF. It was a really long night, and following day for him.
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Maui Trip Report: Getting There & Home - 
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