The Chattanooga Girls Choir

Day 1: CHATTANOOGA/ATLANTA/MEMPHIS
Thursday, June 9, 2005

Today 23 girls, 15 chaperones, and our director LuAnn Holden and her husband Michael began the journey to Italy. We first spent two hours on a luxurious school bus which got us to the Atlanta airport in plenty of time, about 2 hours before our 5:10 p.m. flight. No problem, right? Well, that extra time evaporated after waiting through a very slow line to check in all our bags with Northwestern Airlines, then waiting again to go through security (each girl removing shoes, jewelry, etc., of course), and then having almost a third of our group detained by security for a special check involving a removing shoes again, standing spread-eagle, being hand-scanned with a metal scanner, and having carry-on bags searched. Terrorists are disguising theselves as 14-year-old female singers these days, I guess. The last group made it to the plane just as they were calling the final boarding call!

We flew to Memphis first, where the enticing smell of barbeque permeates the entire terminal. We had a little time to relax while we waited to board our flight to Amsterdam. However, when they began boarding the plane sooner than we had anticipated, we had quickly to go in search of some groups who had left in search of a snack, all while the Northwestern agents were impatiently tapping their feet and tsk-tsking at us. Oops! But we all got on in plenty of time (so, nyah, Northwestern!) and were finally on our way to Europe.

Continued on Day 2...

Waiting for take-off are Alyson, Beth (on the cell phone again!), and first-time flyer Starla.

First-time flyer Megan G. nervously distracts herself with music. Mom Donna looks relaxed!

Alex H. and Sally decide wait time is nap time while friends guard their things.

Megan, Jesseca, and Katy show off this year's tour company T-shirt.

Return to 2005 Tour page

Main Page | History | Directors | Auditions | Tours | Calendar | Choir News