trial by travel

I am currently sitting in the Vancouver airport awaiting a flight to Denver and then on to Minneapolis. My spring break plans include the exciting destination of Minnetonka, MN and hanging out with a little 4 month year old cutie, who also happens to be my first niece. I thought I would make sure that she realized early in life that I am, by far, her best aunt...not only because I am willing to go to Minnetonka for reading break...but also because I got up at 4 AM, yes 4 AM, to catch my flight.

See I have learned, through trial, that airports can be scary places. Take the two day stint in the Toronto airport on my way to Ottawa. Two days in an airport, carrying around two hockey bags full of my belongings for my next 4 months in Ottawa, was a real treat.

My favorite moment in an airport has by far been my experience in Chicago O'Hare. I was flying back from Minnesota to Ottawa and had a layover for 3 hours in Chicago. They hadn't assigned my seat when I picked up my ticket and I kept checking in at the counter, trying to get a seat assigned. It wasn't until they started loading the plane that I felt like something was wrong. While they offered me the opportunity to stay the night and get free traveling money, I was supposed to meet my mom and aunt that night in Ottawa and they were going to stay the night at the LLC so I had to be there to let them in. Unfortunately, airlines tend to engage in a little activity called OVERBOOKING which leaves some people behind in Chicago while every other since person went to Ottawa. There I was, a small town girl in a big city, my mom and aunt waiting for me in Ottawa, flashbacks of being stranded in Toronto flooding my mind, and I began to bawl. Sob was actually more like it. In fact, I started crying so hard I had strangers coming up to me asking me if I was going to be okay. Normally, I can keep my cool but when I reach my threshold, look out! I must have looked like an absolute mess walking through the airport with tears streaming down my face. The great thing was, everyone was SO nice to me! I tell you, if you ever need to get people to help you...just start crying! I managed to make it out to Ottawa the next morning and all was well.

While I have had some ridiculous experiences in airports, there is also something wonderful and exciting about them. The adventures that some are about to emark on, the returns to family and friends and the characters you meet as you travel makes airports some of the most fascinating places to hang out in. For now, safe travels and if you do end up stuck in an airport, chin up...eventually, you will get out :)