THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503080056
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Maddry
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
I LIKE TO THINK positively in these matters. While it took Jean Rayhill and her neighbor Pat Pennington 19 hours to get to New Orleans, there was a bright side.
For instance, the married women, both in their 50s, might never have had the fun of driving around after midnight with a sailor and a bean counter if their flight hadn't been canceled.
It all began when Jean and Pat, who live in Virginia Beach's Thoroughgood section, decided to go to Mardi Gras. They booked their flight on Continental seven months in advance.
On Friday, Feb. 24th, they arrived at Norfolk International Airport with Jean's son, John, and Pat's daughter Jennifer, and luggage.
About 20 minutes before their 7:50 a.m. flight time, an announcement was broadcast. Their flight had been delayed. They were told the plane had a mechanical problem, and a mechanic was being flown in to fix it.
``It was going to take so much time we would miss our connection in Greensboro,'' Jean said.
Jean asked the airline clerks what they intended to do to get them to New Orleans. It was a challenge because New Orleans is a major destination during Mardi Gras. Which is why the women had booked their flights so far in advance.
``They told us they'd try to find a way,'' she said.
And they did. The airline would fly them to Pensacola, Fla. - the closest that Continental gets to New Orleans.
At that point the son and daughter with them, said sayonara, grabbed their luggage and went to their homes.
But the women were determined to press on to New Orleans.
So how did they get there?
``They flew us to Greensboro first,'' Jean said.
And then?
``We flew to Atlanta,'' she said. ``Then we took a Delta flight to Pensacola that landed at 7:30 p.m. Did I tell you about the three sailors and the bean counter?'' she asked.
I don't think so, Jean.
``We met them at the airport in Norfolk. They were going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, too. And flew to Pensacola on the same planes we did.''
Nice guys? ``Oh yes, they were named Tony, Charles and Kennan. Tony was the bean counter. He works for Nations Bank. We didn't know them from Adam but were glad to run into them because we needed someone to drive the rental car.''
She said the five picked up a Crown Victoria at an airport car rental agency in Pensacola and had supper at a McDonald's.
The sailor named Kennan served as chauffeur. They left Pensacola at about 9 p.m., driving through parts of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi until they crossed into Louisiana.
``Kennan lived in Chalmette, Louisiana, and so we dropped him off at his home before going to New Orleans,'' she said.
The rental car - which the airline promised to pay for - had to be dropped off at the airport in New Orleans. So they didn't get to their hotel until after 1 a.m, she said. ``The sailor and the bean counter were staying at the Omni, and we were at the Marriott. The taxi driver overcharged us,'' she said.
Except for those few, petty inconveniences, the women said they enjoyed their trip. ``It rained on Fat Thursday, but I caught some very nice strings of beads that were tossed by the people called Krews that were riding on floats in the parade,'' Jean said. They flew back to Norfolk on March 1.
Their husbands didn't raise an eyebrow when Jean and Pat told them about driving around past midnight with two sailors and a bean cruncher.
``They were just glad they didn't have to go to Mardi Gras,'' she explained. ``They both hate crowds.'' by CNB