Author’s Note: Here’s a little true story I hope will help you in some way. Just for your own info, I was traveling from Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. Then finally with a connecting flight from Atlanta to Columbus, Ohio. Where my grandfather (Dido) was picking us up in Columbus.

• 8:30 PM on 1/1/01: I’m sitting in a hard seat at the airport. Chewing on some soft white pizza while I wait for my mom to come back from checking in. Over the intercom beams, “I’m sorry but Flight 6789 will be canceled due to labor problems.”
      Out of my left ear I hear a fellow traveler from my own flight whisper, ”I hear the pilots are walking off. Sure that wasn’t our flight but it could be soon.”
      Oh crap… I then bite down and to hear the delightful crack of one of my brackets breaking lose.

• 8:53 PM: I’m still sitting though our plane was supposed to of boarded 20 minutes ago. Rumors are still circulating. A woman next to us is chatting with my mother about how if this flight doesn’t go out there will be none to Atlanta for 2 days. . Sigh… All I want to do is to GO HOME.
• 9:00 PM: We board and I settle down with a boring book about the Salem witch trials.
• 9:10 PM: “Excuse me ladies and gentlemen but the plane will be delayed for repairs. There seems to be a leak of hydraulic fluid. Remember the Titans will be playing for your entertainment”
• 9:20 PM: My mom had hurried off 5 minutes ago mumbling something about tickets. I sit nonchalantly eating some old granola as Denzel Washington drones on about football. Even though the treat of missing my connecting flight in Atlanta looms over my head. Suddenly my mom rushes on the plane saying we are switching to another Atlanta bound flight, which is leaving in a few minutes.
• 9:30 PM: The new plane takes off. It is smaller but considerably nicer than the previous one. The seats are comfortable and Delta Airlines has provided ear phones for the in flight radio and a digital map of our position in the sky. I settle down to read.
• 11:45 PM: We arrive at Atlanta. I search the TV screen to see which gate our connecting gate is only to find it left 10 minutes ago. So my mom and I trudge to the ticket desk.
• 12:00 AM on 1/2/01: ”So everything is settled? Here are your tickets for tomorrow’s flight to Pittsburgh and your vouchers for the hotel.”
      “But my father he is coming into Ohio to pick me up and he’s 83 years old. Could I call and make sure he knows where we are?” my mom asks.
      “Sure, let me call the airport in Columbus.” And with that the nice airline receptionist picks up the phone.
• 12:05 AM: ”I’m sorry but there was a message left at the info desk. Your grandfather is in the hospital… Here’s the number.”
• 12:10 AM: “OMG… really… aha… good… poor guy… yes we’ll call okay… amazing... love ya. Talk to you tomorrow Daddy.” My mom hung up and shakes me off her arm.
      “Soooo… what’s the news mom?” I ask eagerly.
      “He’s okay… amazingly. His car got swiped by another. It rolled 4 times. They had to cut the roof off the top to get him out. But miraculously he’s perfectly fine except for a bruised shoulder from the seat belt. We are truly lucky” Relief shakes through me.
• 12:30 AM: I pretty much have tuned out the sound of fellow travelers as I thinking about my Dido and of a certain someone. The shuttle motor drones on as we headed towards the hotel that would be our haven for tonight. My mom’s voice mixes with the others. Soon the words blended into just sounds of emotion. High ones for surprised low for anger. Before I know it I find my self plopped on the couch in the hotel lobby waiting for my mom to get the room keys. Once again I return to thought.
• 1:00 AM: My mom and me found our hotel room. And after watching the tail end of Mars Attacks we settled into bed. Aliens are funny…