The EbbTide

I have been in Winston Salem, NC since last Sat.  I was there for part business and part pleasure.  We took my nephew home and I had a tax seminar.  My seminar finished up at noon yesterday.  I knew that I would be waiting around because my flight was at six thirty.

I got the airport early only to find out that we’d been delayed an hour. Ok, things could be worse…. one hour is fine.  It is due to bad weather in Atlanta.  To make a long story short, every time I checked the departure time it was later than the one before.  We even got to a point where we were boarded on the plane, door is closed, turn off cell phones….only to be delayed yet ANOTHER hour – they closed Atlanta…they would not let any more planes in…great.  Just great.  I cried at this point.  Really I did.  I was so tired, exasperated and frustrated – not to mention feeling guilty for missing kids activities at home and now another delay?  So we get an update and another delay of 45 minutes…sigh…then before that is up we get the update that we have been cleared to take off at 10:57………..the pilot says we will back away from the gate at 10:30 to go out to the runway so we will be ready for takeoff and go to Atlanta………….  little did I know that my fun was just beginning.

I am updating everyone…and preparing to shut things down to back away …and I get a phone call from Delta…they’ve rebooked my flight for Friday.  WHAT?  This was literally 2 or 3 minutes before the plane was pulling away from gate.  What do I do?  Stay on the plane.  I will take my chances in Atlanta.  I had already learned that the plane I needed in Atlanta was also delayed getting there and was in a similar situation that my plane was in.

Got to Atlanta airport…………oh my………people everywhere…. never seen that many people.  By this time it is 12:40.  On a lark I text my dh to see if my flight happens to still be there even though it is supposed to be gone.  Miracle.  It is still in Atlanta.  Next question, do I still have a seat?……..hmmmm…..so I go to the gate…can’t get to the desk.  (That many people just standing around.  Not in line..just standing/waiting/etc.) Finally get ther… BIGGEST miracle of all….I do still have my seat and we are boarding in minutes…literally in less the 3 minutes boarding begins.  There was a stand by list.  I am convinced that if I had not gotten there when I did, that I was close to losing my seat.

So we land in Jackson………..finally…………around 2:00 AM.  My watch still says 3 AM due to eastern time zone.  Will my luggage be in Jackson?  WHAT do YOU think?  Yeah right……………at this point I am so fine with that it is just not an issue.  Give my claim ticket and bring it to me tomorrow.  Thank you and good night……………………

The fatigue, stress and exhaustion were unreal.  I slept and slept and slept.  Just now beginning to feel human.  My bag did arrive this afternoon and now all is well with the world.

I don’t mind traveling for work, but this experience reminds me how glad I am that I don’t have a lot of travel in my job.  I am truly blessed and grateful for that.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.