« Just say no . . . to bad commercials | Main | Burn, baby, burn »
June 3, 2007
Flight Delays and 'Flu!
Is bad travel Karma catching, do you think?
I'm beginning to suspect that this is the case, because: Picture this...
It was the end of the college year, and No Longer Teenager No #1 flew to Britain two weeks ago to visit my family. Her redeye intercontinental flight was fabulous. There were no lines in the airport, she got a row of three seats to herself so was able to sleep the flight away, the flight attendants were kind and courteous, the flight landed on time, there were no lines at the British end, either, and she was through arrivals and ensconced in the bosom of our loved ones before she knew it!
Yay! Obviously she hasn't inherited my bad travel Karma.
Then, last Monday, she was due to fly to Rotterdam to visit with me. Which is when the trouble began, of course.
The flight between London's Stansted airport and Rotterdam is very quick - the flight plan says an hour, but you're only in the air for about 35 minutes. So, a nice, short journey for her! Her flight was due to land at about 10.45 at night, and Rotterdam airport is only about fifteen minutes away from our apartment by car. Thank goodness for our newish car, and thank goodness for our short journey, too!
Then my mum (Super Mum) called me. No Longer Teenager No #1 had just called her from Stansted airport, because it was way cheaper for Super Mum to call me from her home phone, than for Teenager No #1 to call me international from the airport pay phone (and her American cell phone doesn't work in the UK).
Anyway, her flight was delayed. It was due to land at 1.36 in the morning. Okay, that's a pain, it meant the poor girl would have to hang around waiting for hours for her flight, but no biggie. And then Super Mum told me the second part of the bad news. Rotterdam airport closes at midnight (which I didn't know) and No Longer Teenager No #1's flight had been diverted to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, which is about an hour or so to drive. Also, it was raining...
We finally arrived home just after 3am in the morning...
On the bright side, it's so lovely to have her here. On the dark side, I caught the flu from Oh Patient One and Teenager No #1 just before No Longer Teenager No #1 arrived. And yes, I have accidentally shared it with her, so we've spent the week in the apartment drinking hot honey and lemon, and feeling very sorry for ourselves.
Oh, and remember last time I told you about my forthcoming trip to Oz? Guess what? We're leaving Rotterdam on Friday 13th July. Well, I seem to have bad travel Karma whatever day I travel, so why worry about superstition? :-)
So, dear chicklets, are you superstitious? Do you throw salt over your shoulder if you accidentally spill some? Do knock on wood? Or do you bravely stride under ladders and ignore black cats when they cross your path? I'd love to hear your superstitions, or some good or bad Karma you think you received as a result of them.
Posted by Michelle at 12:05 PM | Comments (6)
Comments
I throw salt over my shoulder and would never ever sew something while someone is still wearing it lest the Angel of Death think I'm sewing that person's shroud and come take them away before their time.
Oh, and whenever I'm sending anything to my agent, I do the Isis chant from the old Shazam/Isis hour before putting it in the mailbox.
Posted by: The LC Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 3, 2007 3:39 PM
Um, Eileen? Given that you're fabulous and published, could you share that Isis chant with the rest of us? And I'm a total wood-knocker. If no wood is handy, I'll knock whatever's closest and alter the prayer, i.e. knock car, knock laminate countertop, knock glass. But, my head's always nearby, so I can pretty much always knock wood.
Posted by: Pam W. at June 4, 2007 11:53 AM
13 is a lucky number in my family. I have 13 letters in my surname, so it is never something to be feared.
Otherwise. I am pretty superstitious. I throw salt over my shoulder and knock on wood. I also often wear a good luck token of some sort when I travel--either the raido rune or a bracelet with the blue eye motif (an image that is said to ward off the evil eye). I gave my sister a St. Christopher amulet to wear during her frequent travels.
Posted by: Christina at June 4, 2007 1:15 PM
Come on, Eileen (I always wanted to say that, LOL), what's your charmed chant?
Pam, I'm not particularly superstitious, but I do knock on my head for wood!
Christina, maybe 13 is my lucky number, too? After all my travel travails, I certainly hope so :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at June 4, 2007 1:28 PM
Ah, the Isis chant. Lift your arms straight up over your head and move them in circles as if you're drawing little circles up in the air over your head and say: Zephyr winds that blow on high, lift me now so I can fly!
Trust me, they notice you in the post office when you do this.
Posted by: The LC Eileen at June 4, 2007 5:42 PM
Eileen,
I'm thinking that Isis chant might work next time I'm stuck in traffic. The words seem to have just the right message. I'll try it and let you know if it works.
Posted by: Janina at June 4, 2007 7:58 PM
