It's 11:39 pm.
That's bad enough, that I am still awake.
The part that makes it pissable, is that I am at Gate C26 at the Philadelphia airport.
I'm the only one at Gate C26 at the Philadelphia airport.
Did I mention that it's 11:41 pm?
My flight is at 6:45 am.
Do the math.
Why am I here?
Good question.
My mom, who lives in Orlando, fell last weekend and broke a vertebrae in her back. She's 89 years old. Not good. She also has heart issues. She's in a rehab facility at the moment.
So, being the good daughter that I am, I took off to help out a little. Dad is also 89 and he's at home.
Got to the Portland Jetport okay. Got on the plane okay. Plane taxied to runway okay.
Plane shuts off engines. NOT OKAY.
Pilot says they didn't know we were going to use the runway so we weren't scheduled.
So we have to wait about 25/30 minutes. Then we'll go.
"...they didn't know we were going to use the runway???????"
You can't make this up.
Understand, I had 44 minutes between flights. If all goes ok, that's not a lot of time.
So now I'm down to 20 minutes between flights.
So we take off. When we are almost in Philly, the pilot comes on and says, "They won't let us land, so we have to circle for a while."
"They won't let us land????????"
Now I KNOW that I'm in the Twilight Zone.
Using the runway? Silly us. Needing to land? Preposterous.
So by some miracle we land and I calculate that my next plane is leaving in 11 minutes. It's still actually here. BUT, I'm in the back of the plane and nobody seems to be opening the door.
(Another foreign concept, I'm sure. I am convinced that they are making this all up as they go along.)
We landed at Gate C-24. My plane is leaving from Gate B-5. Not good.
After an excruciating amount of time goes by, I hit the terminal floor running. Along with about 10 other people, not all going to the same place.
I notice that some people can run faster than me. So fast, in fact, they are yelling out "excuse me! excuse me!"
I am yelling out "&^%$#^&*#*&", and " (make heavy breathing sounds)".
These people appear to be 30 to 40 years younger than me. That might have a wee bit to do with it.
No one pays any attention to me clopping along.
I run until I can run no longer. Running in sandals is not good. Running with a backpack on and pulling a rolling valise is not good. None of this is good.
Look. What's ahead? Why, it's B-1 ! Followed by B-2 and 3, then 4! Can B-5 be far behind, I joke to myself?
No joke. B-4 is followed by B-6.
"WTF?"
B-6 .....B-9 then what to my wondering eyes should appear? But, yes, yes, yes B-5!!!!!!
B-5.
I'm sure there were people there once.
Did I mention that it's 12:03 am?
more later......
17 comments:
Sleep tight! Love, Birdman
bloody hell...
Modern life is supposed to make things easier for us...I said "supposed to"..
I hope your mother will be better soon!
Oh, dear. I'm wrapping a hug around you all.
I wish I could have helped you.
Reminds me of my times at the airport. As if you didn't already have enough stress...
Hope your Mom does well.Your parents will appreciate you coming..Balisha
You just reminded me why I hate flying. I plan to avoid it if at all possible all the way to my grave. I'm retired now; if I have to go somewhere, I have the time to drive!
Bugger all!
Sure hope you FINALLY land in ORL and that your mom improves...and appreciates all your efforts!
Oh my... hope the rest of your trip is completely uneventful and big comfy hugs to you...
x Alex
Hope you're there by now. (Or if not I'm afraid you're really gonna be pissed!) ~Lili
Okay, the good news is that this is really great material for a story, pissed off and all. Praying that you get to your parents all in one piece and with sanity intact.
For some reason as i am reading this I am thinking of that Stephen Kind movie Langoliers! You must have seen it! I was expecting spherical creatures with bottomless throats and a voracious appetite to be part of your story! (Ok....so I didn't make that up...I'm not that good with words)...that was from the Urban Dictionary....but still...those were my thoughts...someone else s words! That sucks that you had to go through that. The whole thing was starting to sound like a Saturday night live comedy routine but not so funny to you! None of it made any sense....especially to all of you I am sure? I hope your mom is alright. Please keep us posted....prayers are going out for her and your dear dad who is the same age? How freaking cute is that? God love them....and I hope you make it there and then home safe.....with no airport antics to report!
Another true horror story from the "Airport". Why are there so many? I am resloved to never fly again. Hope your Mom recovers quickly, she must be so happy that you are trying to get there. I love the stick vase you made....so gorgeous, so natural.
Hugs, Kathleen
sarge did that too, broke that bone in his back, he has osteoporosis from all the prednisone he has had to take over the years. anyway there is a procedure they can do if done soon, it is done with a needle and they put a cement like stuff in the break and it heals instantly. no more pain. otherwise it will heal on its own over three or four months and the pain is awful. anyway sarge's was too old when he finally went and they couldn't do it but it really might help your mom. good luck honey.
hugs, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Reading this after you are safely beyond this trip--you do make it sound funny, in that crazy way of crazed travelers. "They didn't know we were going to use the runway????"
Thanks for the great laugh!! I know it wasn't fun, but sure made a funny story! Hope your mom recovers nicely and fast. I am really enjoying reading and looking through your blog.
I'm just catching up with visiting and oh, as if all the medical issues were not stressful enough, the airport fracas made it worse...I know, makes no sense about the planes and runways etc. I got stuck in San Francisco at Christmastime, because there 'weren't any weather qualified' pilots to get us out of the fog in SF! Jeez, I would hope all pilots were 'weather qualified'...guess not! Ain't that comforting!
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