The morning I left Gettysburg College, I had a meeting with the Chapter Advisor in a coffee shop about 20 minutes away. It was raining. But not one of those torrential downpours - and not a light sprinkle. One of those rains where no matter what you're using for protection; the water is going to find a way to your head, to ruin your hair, so you end up looking like a wet dog the rest of the day, no matter what. I won't mention the blisters that developed in my most comfy shoes due to a perfect mix of mist and leather rubbing my heel...sigh.
September 11th? You're flying TODAY? Asked the chapter member who drove me to the Harrisburg International Airport in PA that morning. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind – let alone the fact that I was flying into New York.
My flight was scheduled to depart around 12:50. When I checked in at the desk I learned it was delayed 2 hours. Not a big deal, I had plenty of paperwork to catch up on. The gate I was scheduled to depart from was crazy with people trying to get to Pittsburgh. I asked the desk agents a few times about my flight - I seemed to be the only one interested in going somewhere besides Pittsburgh. Apparently no other city in the world existed that morning between the hours of 10 and 2. So I never got an answer to any of my questions, but my flight was still on the screen so I thought that had to be good. Although, the delay did get pushed back to 3 hours, instead of the original 2.
Well, finally after they boarded the flight to Pittsburgh, the only city in the world - which was a consolidation of two flights from what I understood, I asked about mine. He looked at me with a blank stare. “Where are you going?” he asked. It was like the guy never thought that a flight besides the one he had been working on all morning to Pittsburgh existed! He asked, "Want to go to Pittsburg?" (Because apparently, that is the ONLY city to fly to from Harrisburg).....Well, "Sure", I said, "if that gets me to LaGuardia in the end" (NY). He looked like he was doing something magical on the computer, and then handed me two boarding passes..."Okay? Thanks, what about my luggage?" and he assured me not to worry.
Well of course I worried - this little man didn't look like he had all his screws in place. So I kindly asked the lady on the ground before stepping on to the plane about my bags. She asked the baggage guy and he nodded to me that he would check on them. That delayed us a few minutes longer but no one knew it was my fault. Thank goodness! The baggage man came on board and made eye contact with me and nodded again with thumbs up. I felt like a secret agent. The flight was pretty turbulent, but other than that it went well and I snoozed the whole way.
I arrived in Pittsburgh (the only city in the world), and my next flight to LaGuardia, NY was scheduled to leave at 5:45. Um, no, I take that back. That was the ORIGINAL time - we were delayed until 8:20, weather permitting. The poor President had already been waiting for me at the LGA airport for hours – I had to call her to go home because I was going to arrive too late (10PM) and instead I would just get a hotel room. She was fine with that, and I think got ahead on her reading for school, she didn’t sound too perturbed.
I had called ahead to the airport Airtran hotel to make sure they had vacancies that night, they assured me they had plenty of space. LGA airport is not the cleanest, or the safest-feeling at night. But thankfully my luggage made it! In one piece! It’s my worst nightmare for my luggage to burst mid-flight and come out on the belt all over the place.
I called the Airtran Airport Hotel again to verify that they did have a shuttle, they said yes, they did, to wait outside the lower level. I waited. And waited. And called again, “I’m sorry, I don’t know who told you we had any vacancies, we are booked for tonight”.
GREAT! Thanks.
I didn’t freak out, but it did occur to me that I have navigated some of the largest cities in the world (Paris, specifically) without difficulty, and suddenly, in my own country – I had no idea what to do with myself in NYC. ‘I wonder if cabs take credit cards….’ Was my only thought. Luckily the airport had a little booth with hotel names and numbers and a courtesy phone – I made some calls. At this point it was close to 11PM. I was exhausted.
Everywhere was over $200. I didn’t think ADPi would be too cool with that going on the credit card. Finally I got someone at the Wingate Inn and Suites. “May I ask your nightly rate?” I asked, “Of course. Let’s see. Because you’re calling now and it’s so late, I can give you our last room at $179”. “I’ll take it, where’s your shuttle?”
The shuttle driver – Mr. Alex (no, I’m not kidding, for you Madagascar fans) had a little bitty crush on little ole’ me I think…I don’t know. It could have been his eagerness to help me with my bags getting into the shuttle. Or maybe it was the way he lingered around even after I had been to the hotel ATM to get cash to tip him. Or maybe it was his insisting to carry my bags to my room for me. “Okay, I got it from here, thank you very much, goodnight”. “Oh, you got it?” (As we’re standing RIGHT outside my door). “Yes, thank you Mr. Alex, goodnight.” This is after he asked what room we were going to in the elevator (1414) and then replied, “must be lucky room”. Excuse me? Sigh...Lock and bolt door – head for shower then bed.
