Delays, Detours and Divine Lessons
Recently, my day began with sunshine and promise. I had a new local airport shuttle service, and everything seemed to be falling into place for an international trip. We zipped to O’Hare airport lickety-split, with check-in finished, luggage weighed, boarding pass in hand and CLEAR sign-up complete, I had time to sit at the gate with two friends I was traveling with. We chatted with excited anticipation, ready for our adventure to begin. But oh… how quickly things can change.
Five of our other friends were on different flights, and one by one, delay notifications started rolling in. What was already a tight 90-minute connection for my group soon turned into a hope and prayer situation. Our flight left two hours later than planned, but the pilot reassured us we’d make up time. A glimmer of hope flickered… until we landed and sat on the tarmac. They changed our gate, and we waited... and waited.
Suddenly, I received a notification on my phone our simple connection became two connections. Wait, what? Then I discovered my friends and I, despite heading to the same destination, were now routed through different connecting flights.
We rushed off the plane, asked for help, and were told to head to Gate Z17. After a long wait, it became clear: no more seats for me on their flight, and none for them on mine. I’d have to fly solo. Deep breath. I can do this.
Seeking help, I was misdirected (twice) and wandered aimlessly until a kind woman explained that the elusive downstairs area I needed was after immigration, an important detail everyone else forgot to mention.
Eventually, another helpful gate agent confirmed I was on standby and not guaranteed a seat. No seat? She handed me a paper ticket with no number and a whisper of faith. As boarding approached, I was told the flight was oversold, but I might still get on, however, I wouldn’t know until the boarding process began. Alleluia, a middle seat opened up (not the upgraded one I paid for on the flight I missed… but hey, I was on board). A win is a win.
Once I landed from the first connection in Munich, I had a four-hour layover and thought I was finally in the clear. I navigated the airport maze, found my gate but still had no boarding pass. No one was at the desk and hours passed. I gently pleaded with a different gate agent, and bless his heart, he was able to confirm I had a seat and was able to print my boarding pass. Silver linings are real. But then, 25 minutes before takeoff another delay was announced.
When boarding began we had to take a bus to the aircraft. Once the bus was loaded we headed down the tarmac, but the bus took a sharp turn and suddenly the woman sitting across from me was not paying attention and her metal drink container launched off her seat and flew at me. Upon impact the top exploded open and soda was flying through the air like a scene from a slapstick comedy and doused me, my pants, shoes, and suitcase. OMG, this day just keeps challenging me but I was too exhausted to care. And as if the travel gods weren’t finished, the final plane connection was a prop plane! Yes folks, a prop plane that sounded like a buzzing bee.
When we finally boarded the plane, we settled in only for a teenager nearby to get a bloody nose which required medical attention and caused another delay. Once we were in the air, a storm hit and the plane jolted up and down like a carnival ride for the hour and 40 minute flight. To top it off, my phone buzzed mid-flight stating my luggage was no longer with me and was last seen in terminal one! Of course it isn’t!
When we finally landed, everyone clapped and cheered as if by surprise we safely landed. But now, I had to figure out about my lost luggage. Someone assured me it would be on the plane. When I saw it appear on the carousel you can imagine how excited and relieved I was to be reunited with my bag. It made it, just like me!
What did this travel tale teach me?
Let go of control. Schedules are a luxury, not a guarantee.
Kindness matters. Every helpful person was a lifeline.
You’re stronger than you think. Navigating foreign airports, miscommunication, and setbacks alone is no small feat.
Faith over frustration. Even with chaos, things can still come together in the end.
Always pack extra patience… and a change of clothes.
This certainly wasn’t the day I planned, but it was the day I got and it left me humbled, grateful, and maybe just a little more resilient. All the detours, delays and divine lessons taught me I can do hard things even when I think I can’t. You can too.
xo Sheryl
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