Now it's almost 9:00 pm and we are over the Labrador Sea on our way across the Atlantic. We've enjoyed white wine and champagne, I think courtesy of a box of Russell Stover chocolates. Score! Plus one of the flight attendants just brought us both sleeping masks and ear plugs. Clearly showing a little appreciation to the flight attendants pays off in spades!

So--- saga in Washington. Not only did we leave about an hour late, we got to the freaking gate. AND SAT THERE. For at least minutes. Who knows what the hell their excuse was but there was half a flight of people stressing out because they had ten-forty minutes to catch their connecting flights.

Mama had arranged for a courtesy cart to meet us to get to our next gate but when we got on the jet way just off the plane there were two ancient women with freaking WHEEL CHAIRS waiting for us. We had adopted another woman named Sarah Johnson sitting opposite Mama who was also scheduled for our flight to Vienna to meet her husband. The three of us had planned to jump on the golf cart and zip from terminal d to terminal b. uh huh. No such luck.

Sarah ran on ahead burdened down with a huge backpack and a carry on while I ran as much as I could and a middle eastern woman pushed Mama in one of the chairs. Crikey! Sarah made it to the gate well ahead if us. I tried to tell the woman that I would push the chair faster but she was belligerent and in broken assured me that she knew her job and how to get to our gate.

Now it's 5:25 and our plane is due to leave at 5:35 when I race ahead of Mama and the baggage and the old Bag with the wheel chair and the gate. The place is completely entry, except for one Asian guy trying to check in. This after two phone calls to Austrian Airlines trying to get them to hold the plane for us by with no assurances. I get to the counter and the lovely woman there says it's fine and I just need to give her my passport. We didn't even have our boarding passes yet because United in Indy only gave us the leg to DC. By the time my passes (including the one in Vienna for that flight to St. Petersburg) are in my hand the old Bag rolls up with mama in the wheel chair. The lovely Austrian Airlines gate attendant gets mama's passport, prints two more boarding passes and we are the last two on the plane. On our entrance on the plane we run into the chef, complete with his white coat and cap. I kid you not!

Each flight attendant is more gracious than the last, assuring us that we're not too late and they have all the time in the world.

Real food for dinner - Mama was chicken and I had pasta, along with the white wine and champagne. Watched 'Identity Theft' and now jamming to Elton John's greatest hits until I decide I really need to sleep. But first I need to finish Mama's champagne which I think she plans to leave. Always bring your fight attendants chocolate!

Almost half-way across the Atlantic now. Traveled 10672 miles according to the back of the seat in front of me. Almost 5 hours left to go, so sleepy time I suppose.