In July of 2007 I traveled to London for a week with a group of fellow students from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, to visit the City University of London for a web project we had created for them . We spent an entire week in London sightseeing, and enjoying our time abroad. We walked the city touring museums, art galleries, including both of the Tates, Trafalagar square, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. After or week of fun, and the one day we spent giving the presentation to the City University of London, we had the return trip home. We caught the cab to Heathrow Airport.
Upon arrival at the airport we were ushered to our gate. Now anyone who has traveled with a wheelchair knows the fun of dealing with storage of the chair and a mix of directions and misinformation the staff will give. After talking with the staff, and hearing one set of instructions from the ticketing staff, and another from the flight staff we were finally told to go to the gate. Upon arriving at the gate the gate staff tell us that they need to take my chair. However, they note that Heathrow has very few elevators and instruct us to wait in the Red Carpet Club, a perks club for 1st class business workers and frequent fliers. We’re told to help ourselves to any of the assortments of top-shelf liquors, fine foods, and other 1st class frivolities. As we sit waiting for the plane in style my classmates toast me as not only did I get them into a rather exclusive and expensive club for free, but it also happened to be my 23rd birthday.
As an added bonus, the trip from London essentially added another 6 hours to my birthday, and upon arriving at the airport in Wausau, I went to the Wausau fair with my family to see Weird Al perform in concert. Truly an amazing birthday.
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