We now return you to the story of Austin and the Airport, already in progress...
...on my way to Atlanta thinking all is well. Little did I know, my connecting flight to Jackson, MS has already departed. In all fairness, I had been warned in Newark that this could happen due to delays, but despite everything, I was still optimistic. Lot of good that did, huh?
I leave the plane and see the Departing Flights screen. My plane left 5 minutes ago. I spoke to the rep. It's around 10:30pm right now. He said that the next flight was leaving 10:52pm... tomorrow evening. So I had to call my mother who had been waiting in Jackson patiently since early in the afternoon (but she did have time to get some last minute shopping done and see Four Christmases). "I guess I will be spending the next 24-hours in the Atlanta airport," I tell her.
At this point, I get a call from my lesbian aunt down in Tampa, FL. She says that her first serious girlfriend from 20 years ago still lives in Atlanta. She's already called her, and she is on her way to pick me up. Now Alison was dating my aunt from the time I was 1 till like 5 or 6. So I have vague yet fond memories of her.
I speak to the rep again one more time just for good measure. Good thing I did too, because there is another flight he can book me on at 1:30pm the next day. "I'm not really supposed...," he begins, "Eh, but whatever. It's Christmas." Befuddled by this, but not wanting to pursue it, I thank him and then leave to meet Alison outside.
Alison picks me up and take me to her beautiful home of 1 girlfriend and 3 dogs. "We just had a big party, so there's a ton of left over beer. Help yourself," she says. Finally, something good on this trip. She shows me my room and says that we'll do brunch before my flight tomorrow to catch up.
Next day, we go have mimosas and check out the boys and girls. We talk of my pre-grade school days and all the cute things I would do. We speak of my aunt, my family, and this crazy thing we call life. She takes me back to the airport and makes me promise to come visit sometime.
Back at the airport, I check and make sure my bag is in Jackson waiting for me. It is. I usually never check a bag, but I have hopes that Christmas Day will bring more than I can carry on when I leave. I thank this Delta rep and head to the gate, with time for a beer before my flight.
When it comes time to board, I grasp my golden ticket in my hand, thinking I'll finally be home in an hour. However, the fates had other plans in store...
You thought it would be over, didn't you? Nope, there's still a 3rd installment, readers. And I know that you can't wait. I know I can't.
xoxo
I hope in part three you FINALLY get to Mississippi and perhaps work on some of your lovely knitting projects :-)
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