Today was definitely a test. A test in preparedness, in desire, and in composure. I'll just say I passed two out of three. Instead of plane-hopping to my final destination, I've spent today entagled in a mess of mishaps and emotional fall-outs. After not sleeping for 5 hours, I got out of bed at 3AM this morning and promptly hit the road to get to the airport early. All seemed fine as far as that went...checked in bags and paid an extra fee, and I was on my way to my gate.
I had a feeling something was amiss when it got to be 15 minutes past boarding time and no announcements were made. Finally, 25 minutes after the scheduled boarding time, they started to board people with a simple message of tardiness due to technical difficulties.
I get to my cramped seat and squeeze into half of that space, with the guy next to me usurping half my seat, and wait for the final cabin check and gate departure with much anxiety. Time is ticking away loudly in my head, as I am reminded the time between my connections has now diminished by half. Right after the final cabin check, they attempt to depart the gate and we all stop abruptly. There is an announcement that there is a computer failure and mechanical issue, and if our connections in Cincinati are before 10AM, we're going to miss them. My bloodpressure immediately rises and I go into pre-panic attack mode...I can feel my face burning and my heart racing, trying not to loose it. I call my parents and from that point, it's a back-and-forth phone tag of updates and setbacks. I decide to deboard and consult an agent about my predicament. At this point. it is approximately 1 hour before my next flight at the airport I won't be at leaves. I waited for about 10 more minutes and I finally get ahold of someone. The lady at the counter scours the database for all flights to Osaka, and informs me that there is no possible way or availability for me to make a flight on time, and the only other alternative is to leave a day late. At this point, my weakened facade shatters and I lose it. I can't hold back the tears and I'm hysterical. "I have to be in Osaka before 6PM on the 1st. I was hired by a company, and they'll be waiting for me, I HAVE TO be there! I can't take a later flight! " I would have felt more embarrassed if it hadn't been the end of the world for me at that moment in time, but I didn't care at all who heard me freaking out at this point.
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing else," the attendant replied dryly. I sobbingly gathered my things and trudged to a chair defeatedly, telling her I'd have to think things over. I called a few more people and cried and got my composure back and then returned to the desk. "I'll take the flight out tomorrow," I agreed. She booked a re-rout to Detroit, rather than Cincinati, so I'd have less of a chance to be screwed over tomorrow, and a larger layover in Seattle so I can rest a bit. Hopefully this all works out so much better...
Well, screw Cincinati and their crappy once-a-day flights. I'll go to DMC!!! ^0^ I am just appreciative that my company was understanding of my situation and has contacted my trainers. The only thing is, now I am extra nervous, since my new start is going to be awkward and a day behind everyone else. So much for a great first impression. I know this is out of my control, but I can't seem to completely rid my system of the bitterness I've felt this week with the sour aftertaste things have left in not going smoothly. I know, this is life. I should have expected it to happen...after all, I've had about 3 or 4 dreams similar to this whole scenario before it even happened. I sometimes feel like I need to pay better heed to what my mind tries to tell me in dreamland, rather than brushing it off .
I guess this is one way to show people they need to expect something other than "normal" from me..^.^; And I think everything happens for a reason, so for all I know, this whole day saved me from some other small tragedy. Maybe there was another stanky-ass unbathed Chinese man with poor dental hygene waiting next to my seat on that flight I never made...maybe I avoided getting jabbed in the kidneys for 16 hours straight by some little punk-butt brat. Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow is supposed to be that much more awesome. I just really hope so...
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