O'Hare International (Oh No!)
Trip Start
Jun 10, 2007
1
5
Trip End
Jun 18, 2007
Chicago,
Illinois,
United States
Monday, June 18, 2007
After 11 hours in the air, we were thrilled to approach O'Hare International Airport, but as the plane landed, our joy turned to dread. A thunderstorm was approaching. I prayed silently, "God, get us out of here before the storm hits." It was not to be. As we boarded the inter-terminal train, the skies turned black, and the rain fell in sheets.
The sign at our gate said the plane was delayed ten minutes. Ten minutes after scheduled departure, we were told our plane was in route, and we'd be delayed another 15 minutes. I spotted friends from Omaha and learned they were returning from Ireland.
At the exact moment of the delayed departure time, we heard the words all air travelers dread, "Your flight has been cancelled. Please proceed to the red courtesy phones for rebooking." "No," the rebooking agent said, "all American flights are full," but we could fly to Detroit the next morning on Northwest and then catch a mid-day flight back to Omaha.
My friends found a morning flight out of Midway, and I found a $200 hotel room. Neither sounded appealing. Fortunately, my friends were able to rent a car. By then it was 2:30 am Rome time, and I said, "I'll drive until it gets dark. Then I'll disintegrate." Fair enough, my wife and friends agreed. They'd drive after I crashed.
Seven and a half hours later, at 10:00 am Rome time and 25 ½ hours after we left our hotel, we were finally home. The trip had surpassed our expectations, and the final miles nearly killed us.
