On our way to Tokyo!

March 16 – 2:15 PM ET

So far, we are definitely on an adventure.  Our first plane out of BWI got to the runway and decided to turn around.  The pilot came on the loudspeaker and let everyone know that we have a problem with the hydraulics on the left side of the plane.  Hmmm, ordinarily something to be thankful that they caught BEFORE we took off, right?  Well, considering we only had a 50 minute layover in Dallas to catch our flight to Tokyo, several plan B and C options ran through my head.  All of them pretty much sucked and involved getting to Japan late and in some crazy fashion or at the minimum, our bags going on a different vacation than us. 

The plane taxi’d back and after 15 minutes, the pilot came on and declared the problem a non-issue.  Just a bad gauge!  After some paperwork, we’d be on our way!  Paperwork?… Not sure what paperwork is involved that needs to be signed before we can takeoff but we only lost 35 minutes.  Maybe we can still make it!

The pilot made up a few minutes in the air but we still had to cross to the other side of the Dallas Terminal in 15 minutes or they were going to leave without us.  We hoofed it OJ-style and arrived literally as they were shutting the doors.  My next concern was finding places for our bags given we were the last 5 people getting onto the plane.  It is clearly our lucky day though and all our bags make it on.  I’m writing this after enjoying the new Muppet Movie and an episode of How I Met Your Mother.  The kids are playing video games on their person TV screen in front of them.  Flying like this isn’t so bad!  I actually already feel like I’m on vacation.  Only 10 more hours to go!