May 26, 2011

Five cities, four states, and five modes of transportation later, I finally crossed the Travis County line tonight.  Such a relaxing feeling in my book, which is exactly what I needed after today's travel calamity.  As I settled in line at the United check-in counter two hours before my flight, I received a phone call announcing my flight to Chicago had been cancelled.  After waiting on hold with United for nearly half an hour, I was told all later flights to Chicago were full, and no seats were available to get me to Austin by the end of the day.  My best bet to get off of a plane in Austin was to wait until tomorrow morning.  Instead of waiting, I decided to rebook through Cleveland to Houston without really knowing how I would get to Austin from there.  After spending another half an hour on hold, I was told all of the flights from Houston to Austin also were booked solid and, again, I would have to wait until the following morning to get a flight to Austin.  Rather than demonstrating even a modicum of patience, I reserved a rental from Houston to Austin, determined to fall asleep in my own bed tonight.  Fourteen hours later, I crossed the Travis County line in my rickety Chevy Aveo, somehow without caffeine, and am grateful to be home in my own bed, safe and sound.