Currently in College Station, PA – home to Penn State University. I spent the last 6 days in Sherbrooke, Canada (actually, Lennoxville, just outside Sherbrooke). Getting there was a trek! But thankfully it was uneventful...on the way there.
The West Connecticut State Chapter President drove me back to LaGuardia airport in New York. I flew directly to Montreal, Canada without experiencing any delays. Once I landed in Montreal, however, I had to take the shuttle bus to the downtown Terminus Centrale (bus station) – that took about an hour. Then purchased a bus ticket (in French) to Sherbrooke – that took over 2 hours.
The first two nights I was in Lennoxville (visiting Bishop’s University) I stayed with the Chapter President. The third night I moved apartments to stay with the Finance VP and Recruitment VP in their four bedroom apartment they shared with two guy friends. The fourth night I moved yet again to a senior member’s house. Take into consideration that I travel with two 50 lbs bags, my laptop case that weighs at least 30lbs and my purse...of course. And also consider that the town of Lennoxville is about, well, there’s one stop light and the town centers around it. No one drives a car. Seriously, the town is a block on either side of the 4-way stop light. That’s it. No. I’m serious. Really.
The Friday I caught a cab back to the bus station, back to Montreal and then another cab to the Best Western near the airport. I had an early morning flight to Pennsylvania today – so I had to get a room last night to make my flight in time. Well, upon arrival at the Best Western yesterday, I handed the nice desk lady my reservation print out and she couldn’t find it. She asked if it could be under a different name. Well, no. Then she looked closer and asked, in a cold, dry voice, “um, do you realize this reservation is for October 12?”
"....excuse me?"
“It says it right here!” As the French-Canadian attitude started to emerge she thrust the reservation page back into my hands. “...I believe you, I just don’t know how that happened.”
And she continued to stare at me like I was a creature from the deep...
THEN, after a few seconds that felt like an hour, she decides to say, “Well, I have a room.”
...
“Can I book it?”
[Pause]. I think she was considering whether I deserved to stay in her discount hotel due to booking the wrong date. “Yes, just one moment.”
Sigh – at least I got a room! Didn’t sleep much, but caught up on work so I’m happy.
And although my flight from Philadelphia to College Station was delayed – I made it. Without one of my bags. Yep. My garment bad decided to stay back for a little vacation time. Apparently it caught wind that there were three other flights landing in College Station today. We’re going to have to have a little discussion when it gets here (I’m hoping it’s not lost) so I can remind it that we only get two days off every thirty days we work. Goodness gracious!
After dinner I called the airport to check on the status of things. Here’s how the conversation went:
Me: “Hi, I’m calling about a missing bag.”
Bag man: “Last name?”
Me: “Lamb, L-A-M-B.” No, I didn’t add, “like the animal”
Bag man: “Just one moment…….[after several moments]…..um, no ma’am, it’s not in yet. But the last flight doesn’t come in until 10PM”
Me: “Okay, so it’s been located? It’s not just out there lost or anything?”
Bag man: “Well, no, it’s not...I mean, it’s not been located but…that doesn’t really mean anything.”
Me: “Okay. So. I should call back after 10 if I don’t hear anything sooner?”
Bag man: “Yeah, that’s fine.”
Me: “Just out of curiosity, any idea how one bag made it and the other didn’t? That’s just never happened to me before, it’s usually all or nothing…”
Bag man: “Oh! Really? Well, um, then in that case. It could be that one bag just got mistaken, and was sent to another city.”
Mistaken? Sent to another city? Okay. Great.
Meanwhile...a very dear friend of mine asks, very sincere, “Was it your important bag?” Very calmly I replied, “Well, let’s go over this. Um. I LIVE out of my suitcases...so...pretty much my LIFE sits in those bags. Together. Yep.” [chuckle]
But to give him credit – I suppose it is my most important bag, because it has my nice clothes, shower stuff, face stuff, and makeup. Sigh...
Hopefully I’ll be able to report later that all is well and my bag came in on the last flight. Till then...fingers crossed.
