You made a tough call. You considered the various alternatives and consequences, and it turned out badly. Accept it, and move on, right? No. You b*tch at your stupidity, you stew in it, you try to find others to blame, and then you grudgingly lurch into resignation, slide into acceptance, and then drop into peace. But not until you proceed through the steps, one by one by one.
It’s a White Plains, NY to Detroit to Northern Michigan flight plan. A major storm sits on top of Detroit. Our pilot circles around the perimeter hoping it clears. It doesn’t. We divert to Cleveland to re-fuel.
We all sit on the plane as it re-fuels, the pilot looking to get back up and to Detroit.
The scheduled layover in Detroit was short. I fumble through my Delta app to learn that I will miss my connection.
I then proceed to make a critical (and flawed) decision. I ask to get off the plane to see if I can catch a Cleveland to Minneapolis to Northern Michigan flight and arrive late, but on the same day. (I learn that this is a major deal for security reasons as my luggage is in the cargo hold and cannot be retrieved – and, separating passenger from luggage is a no-no.)
They let me off. (After taking a photo of my ID, my boarding pass and my luggage receipt.) They make the same offer to the rest of the passengers. Noted, no one else follows me. The attendant explains: “Sir, now you know that you will not have your luggage and it will be shipped on the original flight path arriving tomorrow.” I shrug, smile: “No problem.”
It’s 2:30 pm. The flight to Minneapolis is scheduled at 6pm, then connecting to Michigan at 8:30 pm.
The storm moves on from Detroit, and guess what? It slides on over and camps right on the top of Cleveland. And it sits, and sits, and sits. Torrential downpours, lightening strikes, and rumors of funnel clouds.
It’s 8:00 pm. With delay after delay after delay.
It’s 9:00 pm and we take-off.
I find a Delta Service Center in Minneapolis to assist in re-booking my flight the next day. The airport is emptying out. I find a McDonald’s (Open 24 Hours!) and wolf down three Cheeseburgers, the highlight of my day. Is there anything more satisfying than a McDonald’s cheeseburger on a empty stomach? My fingers tremble as I unwrap the yellow wax paper.
I find a cab. He’s annoyed. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting in this cab line for a long ride?” Continue reading “Flying to Michigan. With best-laid plans.”
