If ever a day of international travel was set up for
failure, today would be that day.
Missing my initial aircraft departure yesterday has set into motion the
same itinerary as planned, but with entirely different characteristics. First, my luggage was supposed to return and
then follow me as departed San Diego today.
The ticketing agent acted exactly as I was prompted yesterday, taking me
downstairs to collect my bags. Her daughter
was traveling today and, sitting in the ticketing area had secured a suitcase
dolly, the attendant ‘borrowing’ it from her to assist in our retrieval of my
bags. Things were looking up.
We descended in the elevator exited and crossed the expanse to one of several rooms. She, while unlocking the door, told me to find my bags. My heart immediately sank as we entered the
small room with 9 bags, none the color or resemblance of mine. The attendant then collected my baggage
ticket numbers and started the electronic ‘search’ for that which appeared
‘lost’, only to see the trail end in Philadelphia. I would need to go to baggage services there
and hopefully connect with my luggage, sending them on to my next destination,
Munich. So, here I sit, in anticipation,
or with some hopefulness that in the four hour layover I have there, I will be
able to retrieve, send and jump aboard the next leg of this displaced travel to
Split, Croatia…only time will tell what the rest of this long day will hold….
As I worked my way to the Baggage Service Desk, Good news. My bags
are here and while I have not set eyes on them, am told they will follow me to
Split. The rest, will become
history… The hard news? My dad. While I was relatively confident that I would
not have any concerns about my dad after today, it seems my intuition was off a
bit. In the brief time I was in Philly, my brother filled me in on the extra length of the procedure to remove the stones in dad's pancreas, instead leading to biopsy of a mass While I have much reassurance in the
progression of my trip, my mind turns and prays, for my dad. Even now, maybe numb from my first stint of
travel, and my dad’s first stint accomplishing the task of fluid flow in his body, I am
surprised by the turn of events, still optimistic that things will work out OK.
Suffice it to say, that I have arrived in Split, and yes, the luggage was here! I had a brief time to visit with Kent and Cheri, and then off to Livno. My final trip to Livno was an hour and a half, and after dinner and now finishing this update, this exhausted traveler will return to my home away from home and try not to crash before 8:30 pm, our time. This will be a feat as I am very exhausted now.
I teach tomorrow (Tuesday) and we'll see how it goes. We are nine hours ahead of you at home in East County. I set up and meet with my interpreter at 10, and teach two back to back sessions, noon to 1:30 and 2-3:30. This has been a hard day, on many fronts. But I am here and with some rest, should be able to successfully teach, tomorrow. Thanks for your support and prayers.
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