Trapped

This is not the post I wanted to write. I wanted to summarize my last few days in a tropical paradise. Of the hopes and dreams I’ve had that have been raised and then dashed, only to arise more powerful than you could imagine. Instead events are happening now that I feel I should document while they are fresh in my emotional core.

My flight home from Costa Rica was going to be long wi tight connections. I knew this, but the website thought I could make it, so I accepted its judgement. I am lucky that hurricane Patricia is hitting Mexico and not Costa Rica, but Houston is having its own inclement weather, which shouldn’t be a big problem because I’m not staying there. (That’s foreshadowing to those taking notes.)

Well, my flight left Costa Rica late, probably because the plane I would travel in had trouble leaving Houston. It was only half an hour, and I asked the ticket agent about it, but she pointed out I had an hour in between flights which should be enough time.

The flight was fine, but problems happened when we landed. Apparently some other plane was bogarting out gate, so we waited on the tarmac for longer than I was comfortable with. Eventually we went to another gate, E16. That’s not too bad; my connection is leaving from E24. Probably close by to each other. Even though my flight had been boarding for fifteen minutes before I even got off my plane, I should be able to make it, although my checked luggage probably wouldn’t.

I though Oklahoma City was a bad airport, but Houston has gone above and beyond to claim that title. Really, Oklahoma fell into the title, and didn’t put in any real effort. Houston wanted it more.

It accomplished this by treating connections as a chance to immigrate. So, we are shuffled away from the plane I want to board and go for a lovely hike to go through immigration. After they determine that I am fit to be in this country, I get to get confused as to whether or not to look for my checked luggage. Eventually finding out I shouldn’t, I proceed to go through security again to get into the exact same terminal.

I didn’t make it in time. My airplane had taken off ten minutes before I even got to the gate. Ticket agents were long gone. Fortunately there is a United customer service desk across the hall. And they joyfully close it right in front of me. I need to go to the one that is across the entire terminal.

By the way, I haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning.

There are no flights today that I can make or fit in. And because it was a weather delay, no compensation or a hotel. Fortunately I have a friend here. A friend who wasn’t answering texts. Eventually I find she was taking a nap, so I have a place to stay. And I took a later flight so I can spend time with her tomorrow.  

2015-10-25 21:03