As of right row it has been 24 hours since I stepped foot into Luthansa International in Frankfurt Germany. That's right, I said it.
First an 8 hour flight to JFK in New York, then the fun began. My original 4:40pm flight got pushed back to 6:45pm. We boarded the "people mover" bus to the plane. Made it about 20 yards before it killed over. Maybe that was a sign.
After about 45 minutes on the bus, they brought another. We made it on the plan about 7:15pm. All on board, doors closed, the taxi hooks up to the front of the plane, then "clunk". The tow bar from the taxi broke the towing mechanism on the nose of the plane. It is now 7:40pm. Everyone on the plane is coming from international flights, including the 20 or more eleven-teen year old's headed home from a school trip. Great. The tensions begin to rise.
The pilot announces that a mechanic is on his way to decide if it can be fixed or if we'll be switching to another plane. 40 minutes go by, the pilot announces that it can be fixed, but, we will have to be moved to a different area to fix it. 20 minutes go by, then we move. It is now 8:40pm.
After arriving at the area where we shall be fixed, the pilot comes on the air to explain that it should take 30 minutes to fix the problem. 20 kids complain at once. I sit quietly gritting my teeth and trying to sink into my "cave". 45 minutes go by before we are told that the mechanic is half way done. Another 45 minutes go by before the staff starts passing out peanuts and water. Not a good sign. It is now 10:15pm.
The engines start, the taxi hooks back up, we head towards the runway. My connecting flight in Atlanta is now boarding. If all goes at best, I will arrive in Atlanta in 2 hours. Maybe their will be a way I can get home to my wife today.
It is now 1:00am, I step off of the plane in Atlanta only to find that there are two workers from Delta to accommodate 100 or more people who have missed their connections. I grit my teeth, I stay in my "cave". I am like water.
It is 2:00am, my wife who is up way too late is working on getting me a flight out in the morning. People are angry. People are delirious. People are acting like children and making a seen. I am quiet.
It is 2:45am, I hold a boarding pass for a flight that leaves at 8:45am. I am content, but, far from being in a good mood. Now at 4:00am. None of the shops are open. No hustle and bustle, the damn escalator isn't even turned on. I sit in a terminal watching the sleepy faces. Most of them are in the same boat as mine. Most of them lost dignity yelling at workers and random people who have had nothing to do with our problem. Do they feel satisfied? Do they feel as if they conquered the airline? Just curious. I feel tired, but content. These people who have been with me for the past 24 hours now fear me. Not because of my looks, just my calm. In my head I have been going nuts, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing that. I have dreamed among the bombs. They can now see it. What is an airport or uncertainty to make me quiver? Calm. Always play a cool face. All things must pass. In a few hours I will be on a plane. In a few hours I will be in her arms. In a few hours she will make it all OK. It has been almost 2 months, what is a few more hours.
