I don’t think I have been this nervous to fly since my first flight in this whirlwind of travel last November to Pennsylvania. I have had the most unusual and annoying journey to get on this plane. It started when I went to bed last night around 9—planning to get up at 4, be at my friend Tara’s in Mineola at 5:30 and be at DFW by 7:30 for my 8:45 flight. It was all perfect until I got my flight notification call. I guess I am glad I sign up for those things! “This flight has been cancelled” said the monotone robotic lilt of the female voice. CANCELED! Gasp. I had never had a flight canceled so I had no clue what that meant to me or WHY it would be. So I called and found no reason at all. They didn’t know at the AA offices, so I was given the option of two alternating flights—6:30 a.m.or 11:21 a.m. I had to call Tara to check, call my rental car, etc. It was crazy. Tara’s husband said the early flight was better for them, and, in all reality, it was for me too because I have a 3 ½ hour drive after arriving and was really planning to be there to help set up because I know they need help. So with all that accomplished. I called the airline and got scheduled on the 6:30 flight—this took a while because they computer would not let it go through—she had to put me on hold and get it approved without a fee! HELLO!!! Then I had to reset my alarms—for 2 a.m.! GASP! Of course I couldn’t fall right to sleep—and the dog next door barked. I don’t know when I did fall asleep but I know I did not sleep long—how could I? Waking up at 2 a.m. was absolutely disgusting. It is not like waking up at 5 to go to prayer at 6—sure it is dark, but it also rather logical to awaken at 5 a.m. I always know when I come out of prayer there will be light (yeah, yeah, double meaning!). But 2 a.m. is just plain GROSS! My eyes were so sore I could hardly see out of them. I was sure thankful I did not have to drive myself to the airport at that hour!

I arrived just past 3:30 a.m. at Tara’s. I had virtually no traffic—gee, imagine that—you think maybe people were, oh, I don’t know, SLEEPING at 3 a.m.! Ugh! Tara and her husband were sitting in the car ready to go. They are friends who deserve large platinum medals for this. It was nothing for them; they had to be in Palestine by10 a.m. anyway. We enjoyed good conversation at least, and that helped the awful hour. Then we got to the airport. I stood in a line for curbside check in—which I usually don’t even do, but it was past 5:30 by then. After all that the guy tells me I have to go upstairs and stand in line because the system won’t acknowledge me! By this time I am wondering if I belong on ANY flight. This is too crazy! I was still stumped as to why they canceled a WHOLE Flight between major cities at a prime travel time when the flight was almost fully booked. Anyway, I got to DFW and had to go upstairs and stand in a new line! By this time I had very little sleep and was a bit frustrated with my favorite airline. I got checked in fine and got my boarding pass—they said because I was rescheduled from a different flight, I had to be seen in person. Like let’s make it MORE inconvenient. I see a travel voucher in my future! The only reason in the computer given for the canceled flight was “Equipment,” and even the clerk did not know what that meant!

So now I am hlafway through my flight and it is not even 8 a.m. I am absolutely BONKERED as my best friend says. I am tired and edgy from not sleeping but I had to fill my body with caffeine to stay awake enough to make it so I can’t sleep yet! We are riding through a mass of clouds, but it was pretty til a few minutes ago. I love flying by clouds. I think I feel better because we are in the air. I have never experienced such a trial with flying. I was getting paranoid, wondering if INS was around the corner or something. Anyway, I don’t know if I can get my rental car early for the same rate. Often they will NOT do that and rates have doubled since I booked, so it would be a large amount of money otherwise. They were going to let me get it late if I came on the other flight, but when I tried to call back to see, they had closed. It was so late they had closed and so early when I left that they had not opened. So if they won’t, I will sit at the airport until they will. I am hoping to snooze at least a bit before we land so I can be conscious to drive unfamiliar territory for 3 ½ hours! This has all been unreal. I cannot believe I woke up at 2.am. Clenching my teeth into a pathetic smile I recited, sarcastically, “ministry is glamorous.”

Boy I hope this trip is as good as the struggle to get there has been bad! I look hideous. Truly I do. I want my hotel room BAD. Fortunately the first three nights I have a nice place—the dive is the last two. I ma in a Vermont country inn for the first part. But I got it for a rock bottom rate. I am sure the rooms are simple as can be, but the setting is gorgeous. I want to SLEEP!!! I cannot believe I have had hardly any sleep and I have to dance and work for days! This ought to be an adventure. Ministry is glamorous.