A Series of Unfortunate Events (For Which I Should Learn to be Thankful)
I am sitting on a bed in Miami. Proof here:
After a really rough month, I have been looking forward to this two day getaway to represent Dr. Smith's Diaper Rash Ointment at an event. They are always so good to me and this seemed a great way to restart my year after the Lost Month. And if you're wondering about me traveling after the pneumonia that would not die, my family and I agreed that I would probably get more rest on the trip than I ever would at home. In other words, say it with me "no kid, hotel bed sleep"! Or so we thought.
The day did not go as planned. At all.
I was scheduled for a flight at 1:35. I was set to leave home around 11:00 to arrive at the airport a full two hours before my flight. Because I am that girl. I have NEVER missed a flight in my life. I am happy to sit at the gate for an hour and a half rather than be stressed. But then the texts start streaming in. The flight was delayed to 2:30. No biggie. I'll leave closer to noon. Still be an early bird. No worries.An hour later it was moved to 3:20. Okay. I planned on leaving at 12:45. This would give me more than two hours at the airport. I was so proud of this decision when I received the text (at 12:20) moving the flight up to 3:00. It freaked me a little. "Oh! They can move it earlier?!?" I get a little paranoid. We start to gather my things.I say goodbye to my husband and run upstairs to get my purse, laptop, etc. and find another message indicating that the flight had been moved back up to the original time. What the what? With about 45 minutes notice, I now had to get across town (thank goodness for my mom for driving!), get through security, and get to the gate. Are you kidding me?I frantically grabbed my purse, threw my phones and computer in and yelled for my mom. We ran to the car and I began charging out directions to my sweet mom while I confirmed I had all my chargers. We tear down the freeway and I think to get my ID prepped. And in this moment, I realize... wait for it... I don't have my wallet which means I don't have my ID.I scream, "turn around!" My mom screeches across two lanes and we exit. As she speeds ahead to the U-turn, I start dialing my husband. We create a render-vous point for a wallet hand-off.Ten minutes later, I am headed back to the airport. I am frantically calling the airline. She apologizes. "It is a rare instance when they flip it back more than an hour". You think? She tells me to go straight through security and if I miss the flight, they will get me on the next one. The next one that has a plane change, a two-hour layover, and gets me in four hours later. So I keep up the hustle.The clock is ticking closer to the 1:35 point and we find ourselves behind two accidents and a stall. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.I enter the automatic doors at 1:35. Yes, I walked in as my plane took flight.Aack!I do as told. I proceed through security, ironically the quickest security line I have ever gone through. I was at the gate talking to an agent within ten minutes. The young man was very apologetic (again) and had me rebooked. This was all done before 1:49. I was less than ten minutes late for the flight but now I will sit.I will sit at the new gate for an hour.I will sit on the plane to Tampa.I will sit at the Tampa International Airport for two hours.I will sit at the gate waiting for the flight to Tampa which is late.I will sit on the tarmac for over 30 minutes. We actually circled the runway system for over fifteen minutes. There was a moment that I wondered if we were driving me to Ft. Lauderdale. We then sat for another ten.The 8:20 flight which is supposed to get me to Ft. Lauderdale finally takes off at 9:10.Finally I stand. We arrive in Ft. Lauderdale at 9:55, almost five hours after my original time but I was in Ft Lauderdale.
Late or not, I will be thankful. I have been flown to a city enjoying beautiful clear skies and days in the 80s. Yep. I should be thankful.
Problem is that I am in Ft. Lauderdale. The hotel is in Miami.So to the cabs I go.I grab one and we head to Miami. He is confident getting me across the peninsula to the city but he is lost when it comes to finding my hotel. He argues with me about the existence of 2nd Avenue and after creeping along the road (with the meter doing a lot more than creeping), I find the hotel on my phone GPS and direct him. At 10:45 and $75.06, we pull into the drive.
Even later, I am in Miami at the hotel where I will sleep uninterrupted by glasses of water, bad dreams, or any other pint-sized needs. Yep, I should be thankful.
But I only have $40 cash. There is a credit card machine in the cab that continues to return my now $90.84 (with tip) fare as connection errors. After five tries and ten minutes, we call the number where they claim my card is declined. WHAT???? I just checked the balance, I am solid. I have no idea what's going on other than I cannot pay my cab.The valets than offer an ATM in the hotel. I leave all of my belongings other than my wallet and head in to find a very non-Bank of America ATM. Although I know there will be a huge charge, I withdraw the cash needed. OUCH!I pay the cab driver and gather my things.
Later still and with a lighter wallet, I am able to pay the cabbie and not arrested for stiffing a fare. Yep, I should be thankful.
I drag myself upstairs, turn on "The Daily Show" practically falling asleep in my clothes. The next morning I awake to an email from my bank that my card has a hold on it until I call the fraud number.So before breakfast, I spend ten minutes on hold. I then spent another ten tense minutes with a less than friendly customer service agent convincing her that I am indeed in Miami and explaining how un-customer friendly it was to be without use of my card when I am alone in a strange city. But finally, I am successful in accessing my card here in Miami. Yay!
Despite the series of unfortunate events, I am in Miami. In a nice hotel. Working a job I love. With people I really like. Yep, I should be thankful.
In fact, I am thankful. This year seem sot be a teaching year for me. I am learning patience and let me tell you, it isn't the easiest lesson for me. But the truth is this exhausting frustrating day is probably the biggest example of first world problems ever told. I flew on a plane. My ticket was paid for by another. I got to my destination safely. And my destination is pretty darn awesome!