Chase
and I went back to work today after a week-long adventure. Last Tuesday, Patti, Chase and I flew from
San Francisco to Milwaukee to visit our son and daughter-in-law. It’s the first time Chase and I have flown
together.
He
did a great job clearing the TSA checkpoint.
I was delayed because it took some time to find a TSA agent who could
swab my hands (because of my insulin pump) and pat me down. So Chase went with Patti and did just
fine.
We
preboarded our flight on Southwest Airlines.
I had to make a choice whether to take a bulkhead seat or a regular
one. After reading several posts on the
forum of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, I decided to take a
regular seat and have Chase go under the seat in front of me. People on the forum assured me he would fit,
and he did. They suggested it was safer
to have him under the seat if we hit turbulence. He did a little circling and settling, and
finally come to rest with his back half under the seat and his head by my
feet. He pretty much stayed that way for
the full four hour flight.
As
usual, Chase found a crowded place to be stimulating. We had brisk walks through the airport going
to and from our gate.
In
Milwaukee, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Part of the fun of having a guide dog is
finding a place to relieve him three or four time s day. For this Californian, it was especially
challenging to take the dog out in sub-freezing weather.
Chase
got to meet a new dog in Milwaukee.
Georgia belongs to our son and daughter-in-law.
They
played together like the two young dogs that they are.
We
took a drive down to Chicago to see our daughter’s home. Chase met her cat there and was properly
cautious. He was also appropriately
deferential and did not incur the wrath of the kitty claws. In Lincoln Square, we encountered the first
person who has told me I can’t bring my pet dog into their restaurant. When I explained he was my guide dog, they
apologized and backed off.
All
in all, we had a great adventure.
