So I have not given ample time to the
airports that take me on my little journeys here, there, and where ever. Given
the amount of time I am enjoying at O’Hare in Chicago, I think today is just as good a day as any to change that.
My original plane looked all well and
good to the naked eye. But to think we
were ready to go would be a mistake. The
window, the one the main pilot, not even the assistant pilot needed, was
broken. All agreed this was something
that needed to be addressed, but I became concerned about the method when rags
and things that looked like duck tape started coming out of the tool kit. I have certain expectations for the planes
that take me around, and windows secured in place with more than duck tape is
now on the top of the list.
Mercifully, they cancelled this flight,
but the mad dash was a ruckus and everyone has been fighting for standby seats
ever sense. Personally, I’m excited not
to be on the duck taped plane, so I’ve been spending my time making new friends.
There was Donna, at standby gate
number one who was waiting for her delayed fight to LaGuardia, NY. She suggested that I punch the woman at the
customer service desk to get some better customer service. I’m not 100% sure if she really thought that
would help my situation or had such a bad week that seeing someone fall to the
ground knocked out was what she needed to get her back on the right track. I love a true New Yorker.
Next was the young guy Mark who had
been sitting next to me in the waiting area.
He had gone to get a piece of pizza when the cancellation was
announced. When he came back, every seat
on every flight straight through Tuesday had already been taken and the standby
list was 40 deep. He reminds me of a guy
I used to know and was having the cutest conversation with his girlfriend about
how he was going to miss her when she went away next month. It was warm and sweet and he navigated
being honest and not a punk in an adorable way.
I wanted to give him a thumbs up and let him know he was doing a good
job, but I’m sure that would have been crazy - so I just read my book. He’s still down at customer service trying to
get home on Wednesday.
Now I’m sitting across from Peter and
junior. It is like looking at one person
with a photo of himself in his youth. I
always love it when sons look like their fathers; it makes you understand the
pride of being a parent. They share mannerisms
and gestures; even the way they sit slumped in the seat is the same. Those must be the moments that touch you in a
complex way as a mom. Looking at version
2.0 of the man you love and seeing all of those gestures that make you love him
more everyday in another human being.
And my last friend was Marcus. Who when he saw me looking quizzically at the
departure board offered to be of help.
He works here at the airport but after explaining my details he admitted
that he worked in a totally different area and could not help at all, but pretty girls should not be lost
alone. I let him know that I needed to get on
one of the next and last flights out and he offered that I didn’t need to leave
at all. He would just keep me. He’s been here at the airport for 16 years
and has a pension...that was his response to me loosing my job for not returning to
DC.
So there you have it. Let’s hope I get on the next flight…your girl
is a little bit tired and could use a hug.
Your Friendly Skies bgc
No comments:
Post a Comment