What is it that is so non-human about air travel now? It’s all just about herding cattle. Every now and then the livestock get restless and lash out at the handlers. What the handlers don’t realize is that the worse you treat the cattle, the more they will act up. And so it goes…
I made two critical mistakes regarding my winter break travel. First, I booked travel for the day after my last final. At the time it seemed like a good idea – the first opportunity to leave town and I couldn’t wait to get going. A classic 1L move. See, the end of exams party was the night of the last exam day. Fine. My last exam was in the afternoon. Fine. Invited to a pre-party party. Fine. Just one thing…I haven’t slept in days and there isn’t enough time in the day. So…I get up early on Wednesday, since I’m not really prepared for my Civ Pro final. I study most of the morning, have pre-exam lunch at Waffle House with friends, hop to the exam and die a little inside for 3 hours. Done at 5:30. Back to the house, shower, change, back to town, pick up SP, pre-party party. Party Party. Don’t party too much or too long since I have to drive to the airport in a few hours. Blah. Go home – crash. Up again in 3 hours. Remember I haven’t packed. 2 minute pack job. Hit the road for an hour and twenty drive to the airport. I am a waste of space. I am tired, I think I smell and my ears hurt from the night before. I make it to the airport, catch my flight, catch my other flight, miss my last flight.
I’d like to say, in my defense, that it’s really not my fault. Since I was traveling from a big airport (LAX) to a little airport (PSP), I have to catch a little puddle jumper. Well, you know those always leave out of some jacked up little terminal on the other side of the world from where you land. The Delta crew – eh not so much with the customer service. They told me to wait at a gate and a shuttle would come. I waited and waited and waited…never came. I asked another crew member – was told I was at the wrong gate. Went to the right gate. Waited and waited and waited. Never came. Checked some signs – both said two different things. Went back to the Delta desk – was told to go back to the first gate I was at. UGH. I did and waited and waited and waited and finally I think someone complained, and all of a sudden a shuttle appears. By the time the shuttle got me to the American Eagle terminal I had missed my connection. I ended up taking another flight a few hours later. Whatever – it’s done and I’m on vacation. See you when I see you.
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