Saturday night I went to the airport in plenty of time to catch the 11 pm flight. I have traveled a million times before...this was strictly routine....maybe too routine. I swear the agent said.. Gate 171. Anyway, it was gate 171 I sat at from approx. 8.30 At around 10 pm, which is usually when a flight starts boarding, I looked around and nobody was moving...so I continued to sit. Around 10.30 I actually thought of getting up and looking at the board to see how long this flight was delayed but I had my purse, a laptop and a carry on and it was a pain in the ass to drag all the stuff over, so I continued to sit...congratulating myself on my new mature patient attitude! You know that before I got "the look" from the sisters, I would have been up there Dino'ing to anyone who would have listened! lol!!! At about 10.40 I saw a crew of pilots and flight attendants arrive...I thought...oh that is what the delay is. I had experience the same thing when I flew to New Hampshire to see Jamie and Stacy. Besides...still there was nobody moving around me. Finally at 11 pm, I couldnt take it anymore and I got up to look at the board... OH MY GOD!!!! I was at the wrong gate!!!!!!! It was gate 173 and the flight had just left!!!! Now I was sick to my stomach! How could a mature person, going to be a grandmother, miss a flight??? This was impossible!!! I ran up to an Air Canada agent and she took one look at me and said..."I know who you are"....I looked at her for some sort of familiarity and couldnt find anything...I said.."You do?" She said..."You are the woman that missed the London flight...I can tell from your face!" Yes!!! That's me! I had gone from a patient mature grandmotherly type to..The woman that missed the London flight!
They were very nice, considering all the problems I had caused....of course my bags had to be off loaded...security and all. Then she said.."Go down to belt 1 and collect your bags...you will have to recheck them for the flight tomorrow morning." Sure buddy! If only it was that easy.... Down to the baggage area I went, only to be told by the baggage people that there was no way they were going be brought down tonight at that late hour..be back here at 6, they should be here. I even said to the woman...I am not going to see these bags for 3 days am I? She gave me a dirty look and said, "What makes you say that?"
By now it was 1 in the morning...too late to go home and be back for 6... so I took off the coat and the long sweater thing and slept in the rest of the clothes. Needless to say, there were no bags the next morning when I checked. I was assured that either the bags had already gone to London or would definitely be on the flight with me. I waited around for a while but believe me when I say... the priority was getting on the flight and there was no way I was going to miss this one. Do you know what it is like to call your own child, who is 9 months pregnant with your grandchild and say, "Dont come get me..I missed the flight" ??? Everyone of those teenage "irresponsible lectures" came right back in my face!!!
I arrived in London at 9 something that night and Kirsten, Lee and a very very visible BoB met me at the airport and took me to my hotel. Once again, I slept in my now very favourite, but getting tired of it outfit! BTW I did wash out the underwear and socks by hand!!!! The next day, still wearing the outfit I finally got to M&S and bought a change of clothes, while Kirsty provided a pair of pajamas and a razor. That night.. on a trip to Asda (Walmart) I purchased a new set of much needed toiletries. Air Canada in London was absolutely useless...they dont have a live customer service person..."leave a message" and we wont get back to you..type thing!! I was beginning to wonder which would arrive first...BoB or the suitcases! The woman in Toronto was right...it wasnt 3 days...it was 4!!!!By Wednesday after a washing out in the hotel sink, "the outfit" was ready for rewearing to Banbury to visit BoB's midwife. It was still the most comfortable set of clothes in my possession and I didnt know if we would be staying for BoB's arrival or not. On Wednesday night...word that the wayward luggage had finally landed at Kirsty and Lee's brought great joy! As comfortable and as much as I loved the outfit when I first put it on...enough is enough!!! Today it is my own jeans, a beloved top and a good old hoodie... they might not be granny wear...but Kadie feels great! Now I just need a Noah or a Mia to hold!
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