The trip home was HELL!

The first indication was the fact that my backpack had to be run through the scanning machine twice. Why? My inhaler was giving them fits. Never mind that the other bag also had an inhaler, never mind that it never moved from the trip there, so the last folks had no issues with it. Oh well. Security is a joke really. They miss more than they catch.

This flight took off on time, but that was negated by my seat partner. a gent close to my age who had no boundary issues...it was all his space. When I asked if he could move in just a bit (he was working his elbow into my ribs) he informed me he had no room. So on a 4 hour flight, I got the joy of riding the whole trip with my arms locked in front of me and his freaking elbow in my rib. The flight was packed to the gills, so there was no option of even moving.It was miserable.

We got to Cincinnati, took a shuttle to the far end of the world concourse, figured out the unique gates and went to eat something. Came back to prepare to board, they are trying to get people to volunteer to give up their seats, they have over booked and then after 30 minutes that is finally resolved and suddenly there is a delay of 30 minutes....some surprise security check i guess. Then there is another delay, till 10p.

We finally boarded at 10, and were told that there would be another 45 minute delay....Wind in Chicago was causing problems...but this would be the last delay...they said. after 15 minutes or so, it got serious. We were being de-planed. Chicago, one of the biggest international airports in the country, had no radar. Cant land in an airport that cant see you! This one is serious. they have no clue when it will be fixed. It is now 11p, and a half hour later we have secured discount tickets for a hotel, been reticketed for Tuesday morning at 10, and I was getting out the computer to let our friends know via email what our status was.

Dontcha know that was the magic trick. Just as my computer booted up, they announce they are reboarding us. So one more time we trudge out to the tarmac with our bags, to climb the steps up to the plane. But this time, surprise of all surprises, we actually got off the ground.

The only plus was chatting with the others surrounding us on the trip. A young mom and her 8 year old son who was dead exhausted, turned out to be our neighbors by just a few blocks. The boy fell asleep and I offered to help her carry things so she could carry the sleeping son. Then there was the Chicago family whose 9yo was wired for sound so we helped occupy her mind for a bit.

But finally we were within spitting distance of our very own car. We declined the offer to stay overnight and drive home the next morning, but by then we were just ready to get home. Two and a half hours and one potty stop later we were home. By the time sleep came it was 4 am, but there were no travels yet to come. Thank the goddess.

My reaction to the whole thing was to come down with some evil flu, and still this morning feel like every bit of my body has been well beaten.

We have come to the conclusion that Chicago-O'Hare is not our friend. If we can avoid it, we will do as little travel from that airport as possible. Not that we have any great plans soon.