Now, don’t get me wrong. I am by no means complaining about this:
Nor am I complaining about this:
And of course I’m not complaining about this:
(the Ghiradelli store–in case you can’t tell)
BUT.
I am completely and 100% complaining about the fact that I am STILL sitting in the JFK airport at 3:35 pm, when my flight out of San Francisco last night was the red-eye with a departure time of 9:30 pm YESTERDAY. I’m complaining that because of this, I am missing my Chem test (okay, I’m really okay with that), but yet I am frustrated with the fact that the make-up isn’t for a couple weeks (so long, fresh chemistry knowledge) AND is comprised of material from all three exams (hello, unforeseen-mini-final). Not to mention, the only reason why my mother and I saw a night of sleeping on a plane as our best option was for the sake of this god-awful chemistry exam that I won’t even end up taking.
Shannon is not optimistic today. No, I’m switching it up (although, does a pissed-off rant necessarily count as cynical, or just a part of life?).
But then, I know I really don’t have room to talk. I just spent three days in one of the liveliest, loveliest cities in America: San Francisco. No, I didn’t just up and decide that hey, this weekend doesn’t have much going on–let’s leave State College and fly across the country (although what a life that would be!!). Nah. My cousin had her beautiful wedding this weekend overlooking the Golden Gate, and it was fabulous, wonderful, delicious, and well worth the far travel. However, how could we have known that a little fog in NYC at 6 am this morning would completely shut down JFK-one of America’s biggest hubs? That was a nice little surprise to wake us up from our struggled-slumber snuggling with our red Delta blankets: a PA system announcing to us with its deepest apologies that we are not landing in JFK after all, but rather the exciting destination of Albany for the time being. But after that? We don’t even know, but we’re far down on the waiting list for available runways. Hope you’re not missing anything important, but you will most likely miss your connections. Suckas.
So, here I am. And I’m not even quite sure what insightful things I have to say about the matter. It just seems like the entire airway system is so fragile and so susceptible to getting completely and utterly screwed up, and therefore flyers’ plans become susceptible to getting completely and utterly screwed up. Often times, it is beyond the airlines’ control; after all, safety takes precedence in the air. But, when it all comes down to it, someone gets screwed. Flights can’t wait for you, or else many others get screwed. It’s just an all-around stressful sometimes-you-just-can’t-win situation. Even now, sitting on the carpeted floor with my laptop, I hear announcement after announcement about delayed flights as a repercussion of this morning’s fog. Fog. The fog was ten hours ago! Who knew it could do so much damage to so many schedules?
Well, my gate moved again (literally, third time), so I should go.
But, I’ll leave you with this: next time you travel by air, make sure you pack your patience.
P.S. In reference to the title: my newlywed cousin Sarah and her husband Dave left San Francisco not long after our own departure for their looong trip to Sydney, Australia. They will have made it to their destination halfway around the world before my mom and I make it home. What’s wrong with this picture?!
Alright. I’m done.