A Day at the Dallas Airport

Today has been a very interesting day - and finally I am starting to find the humor in it. You gotta hear this...

• Can't sleep in - awake every 10 minutes starting at 6 am until finally get up at 640.
• Finish packing the head to the airport
• Get checked in by 945 for 1115 flight
• Go through security - passed :)
• Purchase a bottle of water for the flightIn plane, on runaway - suddenly pilots hit the brakes and the plane screeches to a stop. Plane does a uturn and stops
• Pilot comes on and says the computer is malfunctioning but they are working on it
• Few minutes later pilot comes back on and explains a mechanic will need to try restarting it and we must return to terminal
• Quick clock check makes me realize if we are back in the air within an hour, should have no problem catching connection in Cinnicinati to get me home by 5
• Few phone calls made to family as well as text and twitter updatesPilot says they are hoping it will only take a few minutes - there are no other planes for us to switch to because of the holiday weekend. No extra planes and no extra seats on any flights to cinncinati. Still feeling positive
• Approx. 45 minutes later pilot comes on, has us de-plane. Says it should take around 1/2 hour to fix but wanted us to be able to get comfortable
• More phone calls and text updates
• Time passes - still not fixed, missed the cut off for making connection, the book me on the next one to SB from Cinncinati. Starting to waiver on the positive attitude
• HOURS pass - same thing, trying to fix the plane, calling family to update them
• Time passes where any chance of making connecting flight is gone. Almost at breaking point emotionally.Delta guy comes on and says they need a part, so it will be at least three hours until the flight leaves. Anyone heading to cinnicinati will still take this flight, anyone with a connection will miss it. Instruct us to head to Delta Ticket Desk for better assistance
• Go outside secure area to go to ticket counter
• No seats on any flights. Have to fly standby on overbooked flight for 400 to get to Atlanta, have definite seat from Atlanta to SB. If I don't get on the flight, my luggage must go on without me. I take the risk. Second flight to Atlanta at 515 I can also fly standby on
• Head to security, must throw away my fairly full bottle of water. Go back through security.
• More phone calls to family. Breakdown and cry at every conversation. Just want to go home.
• Wait and pray for a miracle to make it on the flight. 27 people flying standby, I'm number 9. Discover flight is overbooked by 20 people.
• Buy another bottle of water for flight and a book to try to distract me. Distraction didn't work.
• No one on standby makes it onto the flight
• Move to the next gate. Still number 9 on standby. Pray for a miracle.
• Flight takes off without me on it.
• Tear up again.
• Call Dad and Stepmom to pick me back up
• Head to Delta ticket desk again
• This agent explores other options on other airlines. Finds a late night flight to Indianapolis. Call my sister to see if shes willing to pick me up at 1135 in Indy, a three hour drive there and then back.
• Tear up again. Sister willingly agrees as I am a wreck on the phone.
• Booked on flight. Given food voucher and directions how to get to other terminal where the flight would be in 2 1/2 hours.
• Call Dad and stepmom back to tell them they don't need to come, and about flight to Indy. Have been at the airport over 7 1/2 hours.
• Next 20 minutes spent on the phone with various family members driving me crazy with what to do! No longer need advice, plans have been made. Know they are doing it because they love me but still overwhelming. Family gives me a headache.
• Realize again that I must throw away my just opened water to go back through security. Chug some of it.
• Head through third security check of the day. Get flagged to be patted down and stuff searched. Laughed at the irony - figure if I had anything to hide, I would have been caught by now.
• Decide I should eat something, go to pay with food voucher. Not accepted in this terminal, even though specifically told it could be. Get frustrated again.
• Waiting for time to board - finally find humor in the situation. Don't want to travel again for a long time.