On the Road Again...

It's been a fun trip so far, with several lovely days in Los Angeles, visiting family and friends. However, yesterday has to have been the trip from hell...

Left the hotel for LAX at 7:30 AM, for a 9AM departure to Detroit via Chicago. Late departure of one hour...no biggie. In Chicago, we boarded a small jet for the flight to Detroit, but after sitting on board for half an hour or so the flight was cancelled due to a mechanical failure. Scramble to assemble coats, laptops, rollaboards, race out to the Concourse (C), get info on next flight to Detroit, race to Concourse B to line up for that plane. Clever DH called on his cellphone to secure seat assignments, so our seats are at least confirmed.

Waiting, waiting, waiting to board, when I noticed my purse was missing! Panic and consternation, DH implores gate agent to check with maintenance on the scrubbed flight. She reports it may take awhile, and my best chance to recover purse is to remain in Chicago while she tries to track it down. DH MUST be in Detroit this morning to work, so he boards that flight, (after we fiddle around with sharing cash, credit cards, switching powered-up cellphone and laptop batteries) and I start hanging around the desk for news.

Miracle of miracles, the purse is located on the plane, completely intact, with all money, credit cards, passport, driver's license, etc. all there, turned in at the other concourse (of course), but the wonderful agent who tracked this down also secured a boarding pass for me on the next (sold-out!) flight to Detroit, due to a last minute cancellation.

Raced from Concourse B to Concourse C 3, got purse, raced back to C15 for flight department and made it just in time to board. While running, I managed to make a cell call to DH to let him know I would arrive in Detroit very likely only 15 minutes after he did, so maybe we could share a limo to the hotel.

Uneventful flight, DH and I hook up, all amazement that this worked out so happily, and we hop into the limo to the hotel. Very cold in Detroit at midnight (five hours later than we'd expected to arrive!), and the roads are icy. Halfway to the hotel, we find ourselves in the middle of a 7 car pile-up! Our limo has a smashed up right front fender and scrapes along the right side, but we are all ok...no one injured, though in the other 6 cars a total of 3 people were taken to hospital in an ambulance and several cars are very badly damaged. Of course, sorting all this out took 2 more hours, before the police would let everyone leave the scene.

So, we strolled in to the hotel at 2:30 AM, with DH expected for his all day work responsibilities at 9:45 this morning. Poor guy made it up and out the door, but I'm sure he'll be wiped out tonight.

As for me, I caught a little shuttle to a local mall for a stroll through shops and restaurants and then came back to the hotel for a snooze.

Sure hope tomorrow's flight to Houston is less eventful! Here's my question...do you think I should give up traveling? Clearly, I can't be trusted to keep all my bits and pieces together, what with all the schlepping, hoisting, stashing, hauling out, racing from place to place. Maybe I'm getting old?!!

Comments

OH MY GOSH!!! You poor thing! I'm glad it all worked out in the end. Hey, we lived in Houston for three years and if you get a chance there are a couple of awesome quilt stores there. One is called Quilts by the Bay..it's in Galveston. The other is called Quakertown Quilts. That one has been in several quilt magazines. I'm sure if you look in the phone book or call information they can give you the phone numbers and you can get directions. Sigh...if you go, take a minute to just breathe in the quilty air...I miss those two places!! Have a wonderful time!!
dawn
Cynthia said…
what an evenful trip!! glad everything worked out okay in the end.
McIrish Annie said…
lots of excitement going on! hope the rest of your trip is uneventful
You sure do not have luck with planes. If you ever get stuck in Chicago email me and I will come get you. I live 15 miles north or the airport.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Mary Johnson said…
Well obviously the rest of the trip has to go well since you've had more than enough challenges already!
Anonymous said…
Okay. I remember the saga of your trip to Oz. And now this. Should you stop traveling? Nahhhh! Do I want to fly on any plane you're booked on? Nahhhh! (Keep me advised of all your travel arrangements, please.)

xoxo,
Jane Ann
May Britt said…
Seems like you have had another adventureous journey. Think you are getting used to it. It would be boring for you to have a ordinary quiet trip LOL I am so glad it all want ok and you are safe.
Laurie Ann said…
Whew! Sounds like quite an ordeal. Maybe you need to travel with fewer "bits and pieces." :) :) I sure hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly!
Rian said…
Oh my! So many of the reasons I hate to fly anymore...glad you got your purse back intact. What a hassle.
Libby said…
Ahhh, but adventure is the spice of life *s*
Sweet P said…
What an awful trip! I think people have started to carry out too much stuff. I hope the rest of your trip goes a whole lot better.
The Calico Cat said…
Holy cow, I am tired just reading about all of that!
I have a reoccurring nightmare about losing my purse. In my dreams I never find it. I'm so glad your real experience was better (about the purse), but the rest of the saga tops any I've had. The ice, the limo crash, the hours with the police would have done me in.
I'm glad you are okay. See you in the Bay Area soon.

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