As some of you already know, I made an unexpected flying trip to be at my sister Judy's wedding this past week. My Dad had some free miles that he used to purchase my ticket only a little more than a week before the wedding. We decided to try to surprise everyone. But the trip wasn't without it's problems.
When I got to Warsaw the first morning, my flight to London was cancelled because of the fog. (Warsaw can handle piles of snow, but not fog). The next day I went back to Warsaw and began my delayed trip. When I got to Vancouver that evening and my one hour flight to Portland was cancelled. (Vancouver can handle dense fog, but not snow!!!) Five out of six of my flights were either delayed or cancelled!!! I arrived in Portland a day and a half after I was planning. I had lots of stories to tell. Here are a few excerpts I wrote home while there:
"Well, the story doesn't end yet...I don't have a way to call you so I thought you would probably check email first thing in the morning. I'm at Ramada Inn in Vancouver using their free internet service. My flight to Portland was cancelled!!! Can you imagine??? Dad asked me if this trip is jinxed or what. It is a long story, but they are caked in snow here and a lot of flights were cancelled. So...I wait again."We got in on time, but then there was a mix up with the gates and we waited on the plane for probably one half hour. Then we went in to get our luggage. I was suppose to be able to just transfer instead of going through customs, but because the flight was cancelled, the door to the transfer was locked and I had to go all the way back down and go through Canadian customs...then we waited for our luggage for probably one hour because the door was frozen shut and they couldn't get it open. Imagine!!! How much more can go wrong?I met a really nice older couple from France (I think God sent some very nice angels to minister to me) that had sat close to me on the plane and we got to talking while waiting for the luggage. Had a great conversation. They were former Catholics, but now are Protestant. They gave me some Canadian coins to try to make a phone call since I didn't have any Canadian coins and couldn't get any till we were past customs and offered me ten more so I could get some coffee or something to eat. Well, the phone wanted $10.70 to make my call!!! I knew that wouldn't work, so I went to the Air Canada baggage desk and told them I had to get in touch with my family in Oregon so they would know my flight is cancelled and wouldn't leave for the airport. The kind man behind the desk dialed the number and I talked on their phone. Then through customs...to the Air Canada ticket counter where I promptly disolved into tears when they told me there was no compensation for weather related problems. So...I was so tired, I knew I couldn't sleep well at the airport and it was still only 6pm, so I called for a room and they came and picked me up. I met another angel, the shuttle bus driver. He was a friendly black man that told me that snow hardly ever comes to Vancouver. He told me an internet site that I can check with in the morning to see the status of my flight. It is amazing how God sends people to really minister to you when you are in trouble. So I leave tomorrow at 7.30am from Vancouver."
"I woke up at 2:30am and couldn't sleep. I got up at 3, and had coffee in my very quiet motel room. I went to the lobby to check if my fllight is leaving for sure and the man behind the desk was still snoring!!! I didn't want to wake him up, so I went back to my room and dialed the desk. He sounded quite groggy. He helped me with the password to get onto the internet. Wow! Never had problems being up too early before. :)"
"I'm here and we are leaving in one hour to set up the school. I did manage to startle most of my family, although some of them were a little suspicious. Esther was the funniest. I just knocked and walked straight into the house. She did three little hops and a screech and ran to hug me. Ashley told her later, "Aunt Laura scared me." It is so good to be here. Looks like there won't be a lack of things to do for the wedding. I think everything is going pretty good, but I feel sorry for mom trying to get this wedding done and then leave for Belize on Tuesday."
"We just got back from setting up the reception. Lots of work. They are planning on 600 people!!!!!! They have maroon poinsettas and stacks of old books with lanterns on round tables. Looks really pretty. It is so nice to be here, really!!! But I do miss having my family around me. Every so often I find myself looking for you or the children."
"We had a huge day today. We spent ALLL day making food and doing stuff at the gym. I think we all thought it wouldn't take as long as it did, but now it's finished. I told Mom and Dad it feels like we are feeding the five thousand!!!! Judy is serving Romanian soup, European bread, and cold cuts. For dessert she is having a big chocolate chip cookie topped with an ice cream sundae. Yummy."
The wedding was really special and I was so glad I went. I had a Sunday evening with some of the Smucker family, one afternoon for shopping, and a morning making candy with the Smucker ladies. I crammed a lot in the little bit of time I had. Of course, there were still things I wanted to do like go see Marcus and Rhoda's house, visit Grandma, go to the chiropracter, see Phil and Blaine who couldn't be with the Smucker's because of sickness, and maybe do some more shopping. But, my trip was well worth it and the things I didn't get done will just have to wait until later. Thanks to all of you that helped out with various parts. You know who you were. :)
When I got to Warsaw the first morning, my flight to London was cancelled because of the fog. (Warsaw can handle piles of snow, but not fog). The next day I went back to Warsaw and began my delayed trip. When I got to Vancouver that evening and my one hour flight to Portland was cancelled. (Vancouver can handle dense fog, but not snow!!!) Five out of six of my flights were either delayed or cancelled!!! I arrived in Portland a day and a half after I was planning. I had lots of stories to tell. Here are a few excerpts I wrote home while there:
"Well, the story doesn't end yet...I don't have a way to call you so I thought you would probably check email first thing in the morning. I'm at Ramada Inn in Vancouver using their free internet service. My flight to Portland was cancelled!!! Can you imagine??? Dad asked me if this trip is jinxed or what. It is a long story, but they are caked in snow here and a lot of flights were cancelled. So...I wait again."We got in on time, but then there was a mix up with the gates and we waited on the plane for probably one half hour. Then we went in to get our luggage. I was suppose to be able to just transfer instead of going through customs, but because the flight was cancelled, the door to the transfer was locked and I had to go all the way back down and go through Canadian customs...then we waited for our luggage for probably one hour because the door was frozen shut and they couldn't get it open. Imagine!!! How much more can go wrong?I met a really nice older couple from France (I think God sent some very nice angels to minister to me) that had sat close to me on the plane and we got to talking while waiting for the luggage. Had a great conversation. They were former Catholics, but now are Protestant. They gave me some Canadian coins to try to make a phone call since I didn't have any Canadian coins and couldn't get any till we were past customs and offered me ten more so I could get some coffee or something to eat. Well, the phone wanted $10.70 to make my call!!! I knew that wouldn't work, so I went to the Air Canada baggage desk and told them I had to get in touch with my family in Oregon so they would know my flight is cancelled and wouldn't leave for the airport. The kind man behind the desk dialed the number and I talked on their phone. Then through customs...to the Air Canada ticket counter where I promptly disolved into tears when they told me there was no compensation for weather related problems. So...I was so tired, I knew I couldn't sleep well at the airport and it was still only 6pm, so I called for a room and they came and picked me up. I met another angel, the shuttle bus driver. He was a friendly black man that told me that snow hardly ever comes to Vancouver. He told me an internet site that I can check with in the morning to see the status of my flight. It is amazing how God sends people to really minister to you when you are in trouble. So I leave tomorrow at 7.30am from Vancouver."
"I woke up at 2:30am and couldn't sleep. I got up at 3, and had coffee in my very quiet motel room. I went to the lobby to check if my fllight is leaving for sure and the man behind the desk was still snoring!!! I didn't want to wake him up, so I went back to my room and dialed the desk. He sounded quite groggy. He helped me with the password to get onto the internet. Wow! Never had problems being up too early before. :)"
"I'm here and we are leaving in one hour to set up the school. I did manage to startle most of my family, although some of them were a little suspicious. Esther was the funniest. I just knocked and walked straight into the house. She did three little hops and a screech and ran to hug me. Ashley told her later, "Aunt Laura scared me." It is so good to be here. Looks like there won't be a lack of things to do for the wedding. I think everything is going pretty good, but I feel sorry for mom trying to get this wedding done and then leave for Belize on Tuesday."
"We just got back from setting up the reception. Lots of work. They are planning on 600 people!!!!!! They have maroon poinsettas and stacks of old books with lanterns on round tables. Looks really pretty. It is so nice to be here, really!!! But I do miss having my family around me. Every so often I find myself looking for you or the children."
"We had a huge day today. We spent ALLL day making food and doing stuff at the gym. I think we all thought it wouldn't take as long as it did, but now it's finished. I told Mom and Dad it feels like we are feeding the five thousand!!!! Judy is serving Romanian soup, European bread, and cold cuts. For dessert she is having a big chocolate chip cookie topped with an ice cream sundae. Yummy."
The wedding was really special and I was so glad I went. I had a Sunday evening with some of the Smucker family, one afternoon for shopping, and a morning making candy with the Smucker ladies. I crammed a lot in the little bit of time I had. Of course, there were still things I wanted to do like go see Marcus and Rhoda's house, visit Grandma, go to the chiropracter, see Phil and Blaine who couldn't be with the Smucker's because of sickness, and maybe do some more shopping. But, my trip was well worth it and the things I didn't get done will just have to wait until later. Thanks to all of you that helped out with various parts. You know who you were. :)
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