The "30 Hours Of Chaos" Story

It was an ordinary day.  A sudden jolt wakened me from my sleep.  I opened my eyes and heads were bobbing in unison as far as I could see in the seats ahead of me as the plane fought the remnants of the historic storm that swept the eastern coast recently.  To Carol's left sat a young man bobbing and bobbing in his chair, crossing himself a few times and repeating over and over under his breath, "Oh my God!" A few months ago Carol and I searched for airfare for another adventure to the Caribbean.  We found Delta Airlines had the best price, but we would have to travel through New York from Baltimore to reach our final destination of St. Martin.  Never flew through John F. Kennedy Airport, but thought we would give it a try, since the savings were quite substantial.  Well, the travel chaos began around 5:30 PM when we left home in heavy rains and traffic heading to the Best Western near Baltimore and Washington International Airport (BWI).  Had arranged for a Sleep and Park package which is our usual Modus Operandi on the day before our flight.  Wake-up call at 4:15 AM and arrival at the Delta ticket counter at 5:30 AM.  Our flight was to board at 6:40 AM, but that time came and went without any movement from the clerks at the ticket counter.  The sky was overcast, but no rain at all this morning.  Around 7:00 AM I approached the ticket counter and asked why we hadn't boarded as of yet.  "The Captain hasn't given the OK as of yet," was their reply.  "Why?" I naturally wanted to know.    An attendant walked to the door of the walkway, opened it and disappeared into the blackness.  Wasn't long before we heard over the loudspeaker, "The Captain said all air traffic has been stopped in and out of JFK  until further notice because of storms so we will not be boarding as of now."  We had only a half-hour between this flight and our direct flight to Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) in St. Martin, so it was now time to worry.  We sat and sat wondering if we should have taken the more costly flight on American that went from BWI to Miami, then Miami to SXM, the flight we usually take.  The time that our flight from JFK to SXM had arrived and we are still sitting in the airport at BWI.  I made a second trip to the ticket counter where the poor girls were fielding question after question.  My turn arrived and I asked what I can do.  She checked my ticket arrangements and after spending an eternity on the computer, printed my new agenda.  "As soon as the ban is lifted at JFK you can fly there and I have just made arrangements with American for you to fly with them from JFK to Miami and then on to SXM.  Only problem is, you will not arrive until 9:50 PM instead of the 1:30 PM arrival you had before with us."  So, I went back to my wife with the news of our new flight times.  A hour later, still sitting, waiting and hoping for JFK to open, I got to thinking and went back to the counter.  Talking with the same patient girl I said, "Why can't you just schedule my flights from BWI to Miami on American instead of taking me through JFK on Delta first?"  She started typing and shortly said,  "Your suitcases are going to be taken off our plane right now and sent to American's terminal as soon as you tell me what they look like.  Then you will leave in about a half hour for Miami on American."  Gave her the description and asked, "Do you really think our suitcases will make it?" She smiled politely and didn't answer. She knew better!  Well, I've just been awakened by the violent air currents on our trip to Miami on American.  We've faced this before and know the plane can handle them, so no problem.  Our wait in Miami was about five hours so we had a slow late afternoon meal and sat bored the rest of the time until the plane boarded at 7:50 PM.  I'm sure I dozed off quite a few times during that time due to the 2 No-doze Dramamine I had taken real early in the morning.  Finally all passengers were boarded and the door was closed when the Captain came over the speaker with, "The ground crew has not signed off on a small part that they are working on at present.  We must wait until they have finished, so sit back and get comfortable."  

I decided to start my story while on the flight from Miami
to St. Martin. Only thing I could find to write on was the
"Throw Up" Bag. Click on the photo and you will see that
I have stuck pretty close to what I originally had written.  

Geez, what else can happen I thought.  Well, things weren't finished yet!  Finally we're in the air and being served drinks.  Carol and I split a ginger ale and when Carol was just about finished drinking her half, she knocked her half-full plastic cup into her lap which in turn fell into the side pocket of her purse.  I grabbed the purse and when I tipped it  to get the drink from it, the drink fell out into her shoes and carry on bag.  Her passport and immigration form were in her purse and soaked, but salvageable.  Her lap ..... well I wanted to help her dry it off, but she thought it better if she did it.  Eventually we landed about 10:30 PM.  While still in Miami I tried to contact our realtor and car rental guy on my computer, but the airport WiFi wouldn't allow my messages to go through.  So, I called my daughter in Maryland and gave her the email addresses and told her the problems and she sent the emails.  Got a few texts later and everything was in place for a very late arrival.  Customs was a breeze and found my suitcase quickly, but Carol's wasn't with mine.  After a half-hour wait we decided to report it MIA.  Another half-hour in line as island-time had kicked in at the airport.  Our car rental guy, Leslie, was napping outside the airport and I think we startled him when we announced we had made it.  We arrived at the Realtor's office at 11:30 PM and a note told me to pick up the phone and press the gray button.  Did that ...... a dozen times.  Then I saw a piece of paper crumpled on the ground by the phone.  That one told me to call one of the Realtors at a number when we arrive.  Gave it a try and within 15 minutes a very tired looking young man arrived to usher us to our villa.  I can just imagine what we must have looked like to him.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS.  It's 5:21 PM the next day and I've just reached this spot in my story and we're still waiting on the suitcase.  Carol is going to have to wear the same thing tonight for supper as she did yesterday.  We stayed at our villa today and the lack of a bathing suit wasn't a problem, but without a bathing suit to wear tomorrow she ........ well, there's always the clothing optional beach nearby!