Airport delays

I am writing this post after the fourth aircraft delay I have experienced today. I’m most likely going to reach my destination tomorrow, taking an unplanned evening in Chicago.

As I write, I realize that all the people around me are probably feeling a similar way. We are from all over the place but connected by our delayed flight(s).

People look down on their phone, an older man wearing a bucket hat flosses his teeth, someone takes notes in a notebook, a woman reads a book with two bottles of water by her side.

In this moment, there is nothing I can do but sit here and wait, together with everyone en route to Chicago. It has been a long day of waiting, but it makes me pause to reflect on the merit of getting frustrated at things not going the way one expects.

A meticulous itinerary doesn’t prevent delays, changes, cancellations. Where is the merit in worrying about the time? This is the trip. It will become the story I tell people when I talk about my travels. “I remember that day when I had four flight delays.” I will probably smile.

My body is physically tired. My eyes are getting heavy. I have been in Newark airport for around six hours. This is not how I expected my day to go, but that’s okay. Thus is the nature of traveling: adventures are never what you expect. “Adventure” is most certainly an optimistic characterization of the current situation. Give me a break (James smiles).