When it comes to travel, I’ve led quite a charmed existence.

I’ve heard all the travel tales that make you want to curl up under the covers and forget holidays and vacations  all together …  lost suitcases chock full of gifts, family pets who ended up in Boise when the owner traveled to Lauderdale, delays that inched up into days. I’ve always listened (full of gratitude that the horrors of travel fell upon them, not me) with tremendous compassion.

Today, I appear to be falling off of my blissful travel throne even as I type this.

You see, I’m on hold with Deltwest (name has been changed to protect the  innocent).

I called yesterday to which I was greeted with a warm “We don’t even have a weather advisory yet ma’am. You’ll have to call back later,” Thank you, friendly, helpful customer service lady.

At 6:31 a.m., I called in hopes of reaching the same helpful agent. I had planned on updating her about the fog. After about 15 minutes, I decided that surely something had happened and my call got overlooked on their big, magical telephone board with pretty white blinking lights. So, I hung up and dialed back.

Busy.

Maybe there’s some truth that God will test you in the areas you have the most trouble with. I always thought I was a pretty patient person. I didn’t even know they had busy signals anymore.

A few re-dials later, I’m quickly back listening to on hold music and sales pitch recordings … “Did you know when you book your vacation with us, you can earn valuable bonus points towards car rental?” Well, no! I did not know that! Rumor has it that if you are a Senior Diamond Platinum Elite Member, there is some secret Code that gets your call answered.

7:46 a.m.

I decide to purchase a 1-way ticket on a competing airline that will help me miss the fog and a storm that the TV weather person referred to as “one great big wall of water.” Clearly, helpful friendly customer service lady does not watch channel 11.

“Thank you for calling Deltwest Airlines, this is Miss Tanner. How may I be of help to you today?”

At that very moment, my dog leaps onto my lap, tennis ball in mouth, and pulls the earpiece out of the phone nearly taking my ear along with it. (I wonder if the SPCA would take him back after 4 years.)

Heart racing, I jam the cord back in and by the grace of God, Miss Tanner is still there, waiting to be of service to me.

I tell my story to her.

“I’m sorry, Miss Hull, we cannot change your flight, without penalty, until your original flight has been officially canceled”.

Despite my effort to stifle, a tiny scream escapes me.

“Let me check something with my supervisor, Miss Hull. Please hold.”

(Insert  elevator on hold music here and a “did you know that when you book your vacation with Deltwest you can earn valuable …”)

“OK, Miss Hull, I’ve checked with my supervisor, and you cannot change your flight without penalty until your original flight has been officially canceled.”

8:49 a.m.

This is what I have learned this morning …

1. You must let go of that which you have no control over.
2. Blackberries are not Corningware and in fact will break when thrown.

A 3-day Greyhound ride is sounding better and better.

To be continued …
photo credit: alex-s

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (April 10, 2010)

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    Last reviewed: 10 Apr 2010