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November 29, 2004
The week in review
The trip to Chicago was quite an adventure. It will take several entries to cover all the ups and downs, but I'm a trooper, so I'll give it a try.
As Christin already mentioned the traveling experience the day before Thanksgiving began with a bang. After I was informed of the canceled flight I was, much to my surprise, not terribly distraught. I loaded my things back into the car and headed for Shreveport to catch another flight. I arrived at the airport about an hour before my scheduled departure. When I got to the metal detecting station I was "randomly selected" for an extensive search of my belongings and my person. Shoes off, all jewelry off, standing with arms and legs appart they wave the wand all around, poke and prod. Then they dig into my bag; every pocket, open every book, every box, every zipper was invaded. And still, I was not enraged. I spent the next two hours (yes, my plane was delayed) addressing wedding invitations and watching many small bratty children run about freely screaming. There was one father with two kids, about 2 and 4 who seemed to be oblivious to their cries and didn't so much mind when the 2 year old was running up and down the coridors. Then there was the extremely young mother with a loud and talkative 2 year old. It was a good thing this little boy was cute because otherwise there were about 20 people sitting there that would have strangled him. Much to my relief (and many others) the young mother, and unattentive father could be seen giving out spoons full of dimatap shortly before boarding the plane.
Also while waiting for the plane a voice came over the intercom saying "please pause for a moment as we play the National Anthem". The room gets quiet and people are looking around at eachother with questioning faces. Within moments of the tune beginning a man to my left stands, puts his hand over his heart and closes his eyes. Of course the rest of us couldn't just watch him being all patriotic, so we all stood. There we were, standing, hand over heart, looking at nothing. There was no flag, no focal point. Just looking into eachother's confused faces. It was weird.
Finally we borded the plane. I just knew I would be beside that obnoxious little boy, but instead I was by an obnoxious hoity-toity 30ish woman on the front row of the puddle jumper. She knew the flight attendant, she was engaged "just like me", is getting married in Key West and dropping $20,000 on the wedding. "How much are you spending?" she asks with a hint of looking down her nose. I weazle my way out of answering her questions and end up spending the entire flight listening to her go on and on about her wonderful life and how much money she has. Ugg.
I get to Cincinati Airport, which by the way isn't even in Ohio, I run to catch the tram to the next concourse to get to the right terminal. Just as I get to the gate they are boarding the plane. I get on, am happy to be sitting beside a nice little high-school Senior that's excited about her first time flying alone. Within moments we're taxiing out and the pilot comes over the intercom saying "there's a snow storm in Chicago so it's going to be about an hour before we can take off". We sit on the plane and wait.
I made it safely to Chicago, got my luggage and am greeted on the curb by Andrew, his dad, and his aunt. We travel through the snow another hour. I was supposed to get to Chicago at 10:30 am. We pulled into the driveway at 8:23. What a day.
Posted by rachel at November 29, 2004 12:46 PM
Comments
What state is the Cincinnati airport in?
I'm amazed your luggage made it there the same time you did. If it had been me, they definitely would have lost my luggage.
Posted by: Christin at November 29, 2004 01:36 PM
It's in Kentucky. Crazy huh.
Posted by: Rachel at November 29, 2004 03:06 PM
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