The time we almost died chasing our bags

Thinking about what to pack for Mexico :=) remembering some of our trips when our daughter could get us stand-by.. We were flying out of Chicago, going to San Francisco and were having trouble getting seats.. Finally they called us and we boarded a plane going to SF via Salt Lake City.. it was a smaller plane and we all had to surrender our carry-ons to stow underneath.. All seated and belted in when my husband and I and this sweet old lady next to us were told we had to get off.. They were expecting thunderstorms, needed extra fuel, so needed our weight off the plane!! On the gangway, we asked for our carry-ons back and the attendants said "No!!!" Even got a runway supervisor to ask..pleading old lady needed her meds (me).. "No!!" she said "You should have carried on your meds!!" I said "I did...it's in my carry-on!!".. Long story short, they took off.. We could have gotten a direct flight later to SF... but our bags were going to Salt Lake City!! Waited hours and finally got on a flight to SLC!! How we almost died?? We went thru the most horrid lightning storm I have ever seen.. Absolutely white knuckle!! Lightning all around.. you'd think it was Fourth of July..Landed in SLC, and there were our 2 little carry-ons, waiting in the corner for us... After that, it was pretty calm.. loved SF and Napa Valley.. Rented a Prius and was very impressed by it... Anyway, thats life flying standby!!