Entry 03

I lied

I mean, at least a little.

When I penned Entry 02, I tried to put on a brave face. It was a 'fake it till I make it’ moment, but life isn't always so accommodating. My mom and I headed to the airport around noon for our flight, which ended up being delayed an hour, no big deal with our one-hour layover in Chicago. I was cautiously optimistic. However, 30 minutes later, the flight was delayed another 30 minutes, leaving us with a 30-minute layover.

That’s when I start freaking out.

We spoke to the gate agent, who moved our seats up but believed we'd still make the connection. I wasn't as sure. I sneak to the BOI bathroom for a quick stress cry and return to my seat. Boarding commenced, and safety instructions were given, but the plane didn't budge. The Captain's voice crackled over the intercom, explaining lousy weather in Chicago and another delay. Quiet tears streamed down my face. No way we'd make our next flight. I wouldn't be moving today.

We rebooked the Barcelona leg for the next day and looked into a hotel in Chicago. Then an employee dropped a bombshell: the crew had timed out. Our Chicago flight will not be happening until the next day. We were sent home. Baggage retrieval was a chore. Dejected, I collapsed on my bed at home. But suddenly, a text arrived; a new crew was assigned, and our Chicago flight was back on at 10 pm.

What? They just sent us all home.

After calling the airline and not receiving any help, we head back to BOI. This time, progress was real, and we left Boise. At 2 am, we reached O'Hare, aiming for a well-deserved sleep before heading back to the airport the following evening for our 9:00 pm flight to Barcelona.

I hear my name and groggily wake up.

“Athena, they just delayed our flight tonight. We won’t take off until 3 am”.

The tears begin again. What a mess.

Mom lucked into a better flight; I wasn't as fortunate. A gate agent's compassion upgraded my situation. My tears turned to happiness as I secured a new flight and upgraded seats. We rerouted through Newark, but the turbulence ended there. All luggage reached Barcelona. I made a friend on the plane. Customs was a breeze.

It all works out. I’m here now in my favorite city. In my own apartment. Living alone for the very first time in my entire life. It’s surreal. There is much more to share, but for now, I wanted to display the suck because that is the reality of life and travel.