I’m at Dulles airport in Washington. They have the internet here at these little kiosks, for 40 cents a minute (I have already spent $4 checking my email). It’s a big screen and a keyboard and below it there’s a little stool attached. At five months pregnant I am WAY too fat to fit on this little stool so I’m sitting on a chair from the food court.
I’m here because of the security situation in the UK/US. My flight to Heathrow was meant to leave at 6.40 this evening and arrive around 7.30 in the morning. Because of the terrorist alert, my flight is now scheduled to leave at 11.45 this evening and arrive tomorrow around noon. Since I got to the airport four hours early just to make sure I made it through security on time, I ‘ve now got five or six more hours to wait before boarding the plane.
I don’t mind, really, if it means that the flight is safer and everything has been checked properly, and that seems to be the attitude of all the passengers around me, too. The situation here is much less hectic than what I’m sure it’s like at Heathrow, and everyone seems very calm and good-natured. There’s tons for me to do–including what I probably should be doing right now, which is working on my next Modern Extra. (I had to check my word processor in my bag, so I’ve got loose sheets of paper to work on.) I can even get a massage if I want to spend 21 bucks.
I’ll be truthful: I did have a hissy fit in private this morning, accompanied by floods of tears. The news about the planned bombings made me feel as if life is even more fragile than our precious timetables. The baby kicking my belly (and giving me indigestion) makes me feel that even more acutely.
However, everything seems to be well and I guess my main worries are going to be paying this huge internet bill and getting through the next twelve or thirteen hours without lip balm, because they confiscated EVERYTHING at the checkpoints.
Oh, and trying to get back to Reading in time for my ultrasound tomorrow afternoon, which I’m beginning to doubt. I have to say, though, that seeing my baby would be a great reward for trying to sleep in an airport lounge.
Just thinking about you Julie, wondering when you were heading back after reading CNN for the last hour.
Have a safe trip!!!!
Jenna
Have a safe trip home! Hopefully the hours in the airport pass quickly
Julie, I was thinking you’d already be home. I hope it all goes smoothly from here. Take good care and be safe,
Anna A.
Thanks, Jenna and Lis and Anna. I am still here at the airport and rather bored.
I know it’s the hallmark of an uninteresting mind to be bored, but my only alternative is to sit down and do some writing and that just seems like too much hard work…
Fly safely. Bored? Hmm. Can you buy something to read – just to prime the writing pump – not to avoid anything…….
Coming out of lurkdom to let you know you & your little one are in my prayers. Stay safe, stay sane.
Hopefully you are now winging your way across the Atlantic.
And that you got a good start on the next Mod X.
This too shall pass and you will be back with your dh — safe and sound.
You were the first person I thought of when I caught up with the news yesterday evening. I do hope you manage to get away eventually and not get too fed up and frustrated – and you may still make your hospital appointment! Take care Ray-Anne
Julie! I hope you’re safely home now and recovering after 24 hours without a comfortable seat. And I hope you got to see your baby.
Hoping you’re already on your way home, but if not, and still bored, how about thinking up plans for a story that involves being grounded at the airport..? Hugs.
Chin up, sweetheart. Hopefully you’re very nearly home by now, or at least holding on to that positive attitude.
Thinking of you.
We’re all thinking of you over here, too, Julie, and hoping you’re now safe and sound back home. I know it’s not the highest priority for you, but please let us know when you’ve managed to get settled.
{{{{{hugs}}}}}
Thinking of you, Julie, and I hope you have made it home safely after a horribly tiring experience. I also hope you were able to keep your appointment and see Fecklet.
Love,
Mags
Thinking of you lots, Julie. Sorry for the boredom but so very, very glad that you – and everyone else booked on those planes – is safe.
Hope Fecklet puts on an all singing, all dancing show for you, as a consolation.
love
Jenny
I wanted to comment on your later post – the one where you say you’re home – to cheer that you’re back safe and say Welcome Home. But the comments section isn’t working so I’ll have to say it here.
Welcome Home Sweetheart – I am so so glad you’re back safe.
And what great news that you are expecting a Fecklet as opposed to a Fecklette – How wonderful to think that the baby is now grown well enough to reveal that information – even if needing a little persuasion. Take great care of little Elvis.
Rest now and take care of yourself and I’ll see you soon
Love
Kate
Oh, Julie, so sorry to hear you got tangled up in all that! I was relieved to read you are home safe and in time for your special appointment. Take care.