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Traveling Alone

I flew this week to Washington DC to lobby on behalf of my patients for the 5th year in a row. It has become a mini vacation were I feel that I have accomplished something positive and productive. It was also the first time that I have made my own plane reservations and flown alone without a friend or loved one. My previous 4 trips there were as part of a group and I had little to worry about aside from showing at the airport on time and such but this time I was all on my own.

The flight in was perfect. I did meet up with a colleague at my layover point and we flew into DC together which was just awesome. Also the airline attendants were quite pleasant on this trip compared to previous years. The trip itself and the business done were great and went well. Completed my business during the day and played at night with the students and doctors.

My colleague and I had decided to fly out Saturday because we both returned to practice on Monday morning. We arrived at the airport early, security was a breeze for a Saturday afternoon and I noted my flight was slightly delayed but I had an hour layover so I did not worry. In fact I went to the Sam Adams bar and enjoyed a beer during my wait. We returned to the gate and saw that the flight was now delayed an hour, which would cause me to miss my connection flight. I approached the ticket counter to find out about the flight and what I could do for my connecting flight. I would not be able to fly into my original destination that evening but would be able to fly into a city 2 hours south where another colleague practices and would be able to pick me up. I took this option as a backup if I missed my original connecting flight. I was still hoping maybe we would leave early and I would be in my warm bed that night. Eventually we board an hour after we were supposed to have left originally thereby confirming that I would not be easily in my warm bed that night. We sit upon the plane for about 10 minutes at I watch time slip by; I had only a 20-minute layover to catch my alternative flight. We are notified that we cannot leave due to maintenance on the toilet, which then worsens, into broken toilets. After 30 min pass I get up after seeing another passenger leave, I did not want to be sleeping in Detroit that night when I still knew people here in DC that I could be with. It is now about 1.5 hours since this flight was supposed to leave and I will have missed 2 connecting flights to my home state.

I approach the ticket counter and he can put me on a direct flight to the city 2 hours south of my home in the morning. I take it since to arrive at home would be delayed till Monday. They are also very kind and gave me vouchers for taxi back to where my friends were staying at, meal vouchers and future flight voucher. They also said that if I was unable to find my friends to come back and they would set me up in a hotel near the airport, yes I turned down free hotel but I knew people and wanted to yet visit if I was there another night.

Side note, my luggage that was checked arrived at my hometown airport this morning at 9:50 am. My luggage could get home but I could not.

So I arrive back at the hotel and head up to my friend’s room who thankfully there yet because her feet were sore. We went out for dinner and beer (I really wanted a couple of microbrew beers after my airport adventure) and then went home to relax for the night. Some time I’ll talk about theses beers, the red was so smooth with a tad of sweetness I could have ended up in trouble if I had a larger budget. I crashed on the floor of their hotel room since the beds were already full and enjoyed being with them despite my accommodations, they called and got me extra blankets and pillows. I bought another night of internet and chatted with people letting them know where I was and my story.

This morning we wanted to go see the pandas at the National Zoo. My friend Bre and me headed over to do so but as a result got behind and next thing I know I am running through the metro station swearing cuz the train is going to be too long and I send Bre to hail us a cab while I grab cash. Thankfully the cabbie was great and people at the airport clears for the stinky girl who had a flight in a half hour and was stripping in line to get through security as quick as possible, I was not going to miss this flight. And now here I sit composing this on my laptop for your reading pleasure. My trip has been an adventure this time through on my own but aside from some body funk and loss of sleep I should be home in my bed this evening. I will not hesitate to travel again in fact I’m considering a trip to Wyoming in the fall to use that voucher on so thank you everyone who helped me through my little escapade and sorry to those of you in Detroit if you feel offended that I did not want to stay in your city over night.