Bismarck was the most appealing of the alternate airports because they didn’t have heavy blowing snow and freezing fog. All I had to contend with on approach was a 40 mph wind gust. You could feel the plane shaking from side to side after we landed. My arms really got a workout muscling the plane onto the ground. Initially the company wanted us to gas up and try again, but the weather wasn’t forecast to improve for hours, so we would spend the night in Bismarck, take off around 830am and ferry the plane to Minot. The unfortunate part of this story was 1) We had basically the minimum rest in Bismarck, and 2) We would have to sit in Minot Airport for four hours as we waited for our next scheduled departure to Denver. Here we see a deserted Bismarck Airport. Like most North Dakota airports, it was clean, modern looking, and completely empty. And unhelpful to my attempt at rest was a 6am call from the front desk asking, “What time did you want your shuttle to the airport?” I thought we had clearly stated this the night before and also why was I singled out for the phone call?

Shortly after posting this blog, I logged into the airline’s website to research some travel destinations because it kills time and gives me something to look forward to. Sadly, it also alerted me to a schedule change. I would be deadheading to LAX once I got to Denver . . . tomorrow. That means I get to spend the entire day in Minot. I guess the inbound flight from Denver was canceled so we have no way of getting out. With the wind still blowing in strong, going outside was out of the question. The crew hotel in Minot is physically attached to a shopping mall, so that became my only refuge.

After grabbing lunch with the crew, I came back to the room, where the wind was so strong it was forcing itself through the air conditioning unit in the wall. I felt it was healthier to go for a walk around the mall. It wasn’t a very big mall, nor was it busy so I kept seeing the same people over and over again. There were stores that I wasn’t even sure were still in business.

The center kiosks had interesting wares to peddle as well. There was one that was entirely samurai swords and large knives. Another had primarily confederate flag t-shirts. Finally there was this one claiming to be some kind of massage thing, but it looked more like a torture device that would shoot 10,000 volts straight to your nips. In any event, I was constantly reminded that I was a long way from Los Angeles.

 I have an app on my phone that has little health “challenges” that I check off and earn gift cards. Some involve exercise or getting a certain number of hours of sleep etc. One of them is simply titled, “Be grateful each day.”  I didn’t think I would have any reason to check it off today, but after a few hours of mall walking and feeling cold air force its way through the wall of my room, I opened up the app and checked it off. I am very grateful to not live here. I’m sure the much manlier looking men of North Dakota would look at me in my skinny jeans and look down at me as some soft little sissy from California, but you know what? I’m ok with that. I look forward to 80 degrees and sun tomorrow . . . if something actually goes right.