I have to travel quite a bit for work and for the last few trips that have been on the large jet planes, I have been pretty comfortable without a seatbelt extender. I celebrated my first flight without one in April but not all of my seven flights on that trip were as successful. On Tuesday this week, I had to fly to Orlando (yes, I know...I said, "had to"), and one of the segments of my trip on the way home was a short 30-minute flight on a teeny-tiny airplane that seats like 30 people. The seats and seatbelts on these planes are also teeny-tiny and when your butt is nowhere near teeny OR tiny an extender is required (or I would have to fake wearing the seatbelt because I was too embarrassed to ask for one). So, about 4 years ago, I "borrowed" a seatbelt extender from an airline for a regular plane and I brought it along with me every time I flew prior to surgery so I wouldn't have to humiliate myself by asking. I was almost a bit nervous about this flight because even though I was prepared by having it, I was secretly hoping I would not need it.

I got on the "plane", made my way to my seat, put my stuff under the seat in front of me, fidgeted around in my bag to put the extender near the top so I could quickly pick it up without anyone seeing in case I needed to use it, and then proceeded to attempt to buckle the actual seatbelt. I was waiting and then I heard...CLICK! I thought it was lying to me so I tried it again and...CLICK! What a GREAT sound.

Needless to say, I bid farewell to my seatbelt extender. I pushed it to the bottom of my bag. Now, I just need to decide on whether or not I give it back or if I keep it as a reminder of how far I have come.

I say BRONZE IT baby!!

HA!! Am considering this suggestion!!!

My sentiments exactly! BRONZE IT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!

That would be an interesting thread - what are the trophies/ mementos we want to keep from our old selves to remind us of how far we've come? I will look and see if there is one on the forum allready.

I agree - bronze it and put it in a shadowbox!

Amazing victory! Click - how sweet the sound. Right now I am sitting in another airport smiling at your story. Awww. So, let me tell you my favorite airport story victory of mine. In ALB I was stopped by TSA and asked to do a special screening. I was perplexed when a supervisor came over and then another looking at me and whispering in hushed tones. The problem? I no longer looked like my drivers license photo.

Congrats and anxiously awaiting more stories of victories of yours to come!

HAHA too funny

That is awesome!!!! Yayyyy!

"Borrowed", ah hem. LOL!

That just tickled my funny bone. Thanks for the laugh!

Great victory Keep going.

I did the same thing, "borrowed" the seat belt extender! I just kept it with me and very discreetly would pull it out. I didn't want anyone to see that extender!!! I went to great pains to hide it. That day I got on a commuter flight and that belt fit (those are the smaller planes and those seat belts are the shorter ones) I was so happy! When that flight was over, I knew I wasn't going back so I stood up, collected my things and I very openly pulled out that extender and dropped it in the seat! At that point I didn't care who saw it! I left it on that plane for someone else-not me anymore!!!!! Congrats to you, I know how great it feels!