missed it by that much

Pictured above: Flight 453, supposedly having “gone.”

Despite flawless weather, the gods of travel have again conspired against me, delaying my flight from Austin to Dallas just enough to make it likely that I would miss my connection to Portland. But arriving in Dallas, I learned my flight to Portland was also delayed. As we taxied to the gate, I held out hope that with a dash and a prayer that I might still catch the flight.

Then our plane made a U-turn. Out gate was filled by another plane. After 15, minutes sitting on the tarmac, my hopes flagged. But with nothing better to do, I hurried onto the SkyLink to my gate. I arrived just as they closed the door, the flight full. So I think of the myriad minutes lost, waiting to depart from Austin, those agonizing moments sitting on the plane on the ground yet not yet there, or stuck on the escalator behind morons who never learned the basic principle of ‘stand right, walk left.’ Any of these instances abated and I’d be airborne. Had the gate agent in Dallas actually called the gate to my departing flight rather than curtly saying “no, it’s gone,” I’d be on my way to Portland. Instead I sit at the airport, thinking of ways to pass the time.

While delayed and missed flights are nothing new, the constant hope that I could still make the flight frustrates. Better to miss my connection by hours than seconds, for then there’s no torment and anger and frustration, just a resignation that sometimes air travel sucks.