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trip of a lifetime

i've had some pretty horrid travel experiences this past year, but this one definitely comes close to taking the cake.


travel started at 5 o'clock with my bus ride to the el after work.  whew.  the museums were busy friday so the bus was brimming with tourists who don't understand the bus system.  i escaped that craziness and hopped on the el to midway airport.
my 7:30 flight was already delayed, but not to terribly so.  i read and waited.
they continue to delay my flight
we all board.  the plane gets in the line to take off.  we're just hanging out on the runway waiting our turn when...
they turn off the engines and say st. louis is being hit by a major storm.  so we're going to wait for it to pass.  next announcement:  the airport was hit by a tornado, it might be two hours.  we're going to sit.  next announcement:  the airport was closed indefinitely.  we're going back to the gate.  
when we were leaving the gate the two ladies on either side of me said something about the weather in st. louis (they started the conversation before i got on).  and that was the first i heard about bad weather in st. louis.  the next thing i knew i was back at the gate, confused.
we depart the plane at 9 and we all stand around talking out possible scenarios.  then they announce they're canceling the flight to st. louis and the plane is going to oklahoma.
i decided i'm going to take the night megabus because from what i'm hearing, i don't think lambert will be open saturday morning either.  the two girls i sat with rebooked their flights for the next morning.  one left and the other wanted her luggage as she decided whether to get a discount hotel or sleep on a cot in the terminal.  
we put in our requests for our bags at 9:30
we have a seat because we're prepared to wait a while.  we talk about our lives and surprisingly get in pretty deep.  we continue to meet people and compare stories.
i'm getting anxious around 10:30 when pieces of luggage are coming out very... very slowly
i decide i should probably get on my way by 11 or i might miss my megabus.  it's 11 and i'm struggling to decide what i should do.  my bags are ready to go at 11:02 that was LUCKY
and i take off running to the el.
i get off the el and take off running to the bus stop.
i get there 5 minutes before the bus leaves.  11:55 we're on our way to st. louis in a full bus
a couple years ago the megabus was canceled because we got hit with a snow storm and karen & i were hosting greta's bridal shower the next day so i booked a southwest flight and got out of chicago.  so it was megabus's turn.


usually i sleep so well when i travel.  not this trip.  i could not fall asleep on the bus for quite awhile.  i can't explain how happy i was to see the arch at 5 am


and... the grand total for time traveling ...........  12 hours


i told karen:  today's going to have to be a coffee morning...

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