Return to München

Hello all!

I am now back in Munich after a wonderful trip stateside. It was so crazy to go home and now it's so crazy to be back! It feels like I was home for a very long time, and it feels odd to be back in Munich now, as if the last time I was here was last year... ha. Get it? I am so utterly funny.

Anyway, I left Munich on the 23rd, früh, and everything was going smoothly... at first. My plane from Munich to Philadelphia left on time, despite its fellow planes leaving 8 hours late the previous few days. So I was thinking I was golden. When I got to Philly, all the screens said my plane was on time, so I called my mom saying everything was fine. Boo. When we were about to board our plane to Chicago, a woman tells us on the intercom that our plane is changing gates, but not to worry because we will be boarding once we reach the other gate. When we get there, the flight departure has changed from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but I hear the attendent telling passengers that the plane actually won't be leaving until 10:30 at the earliest. So I go and stand in the customer service line for two hours (because I know I won't be making my connection in Chicago) to see if there's anything they can do... nope. Natürlich nicht.

So I board the plane to Chicago, we sit on the tarmac for three hours, the pilot always changing his mind about whether or not we'll be able to leave, when finally, at 11 p.m., and our very last chance, we take off.

When I get to dreaded Chicago, I get a rush of hope because I see a plane taking off for Springfield. I am standing in line at the plane's gate, waiting to talk to a service person when they hear me talking to my mom on someone's phone (I must have borrowed 9 people's phones) and tell me that this plane is going to Springfield and to get out of line and get ready to board. Springfield, Missouri I say? No, Springfield, Illinois. Duh. Damn.

So I spend the night in the airport. And am put on the dreaded standby list. I don't think I will ever get out of Chicago O'Hare. And it doesn't ever look like I will. With the more than 500 flights that were cancelled, how do I have a chance? Blagh. Long story short, I go and speak with a United Airlines representative (who was so charming, let me tell ya) and I say please just get me anywhere close to Springfield, Missouri. There is a flight to St. Louis, he says. Great, I say. Put me on it. So now I have to call my mom again and tell her that she and my sister need to drive to St. Louis to get me. Not a problem, she says. (Sure.)

But in the end, it all worked out despite the tears running down my face and the 36 hours of being awake and thinking I will never get home. We had to tell the whole family I was coming (initially it was going to be a surprise), but it was a lovely time anyway.

I love Christmas. I love my family. I was very lucky I got to see them.

I also got to visit home for about a week as well. I saw some friends, my DOGS, stopped by the NMFP office and got to surprise my co-workers, and I got to sleep in my awesome Queen-size bed. Yay for Queen-size beds.

The enchanting visit felt like it lasted for a month rather than a few weeks. And it was weird to be back in the states, and similarily weird to come back to Munich.

But I am back now, and trying very hard to honor my New Year's Resolutions.

Alles gute.