Perhaps it was sleeplessness or alcohol consumption or the fact that one of my best friend's got married, I was an emotional wreck this weekend (and still sort of am). If something really happy happened or something sad or something funny, tears would pool in my eyes. When I told stories about my students and injustices they faced, tears pooled. Even, as I write this, the familiar lump and near-permamnent puddle of tears are creeping back. Yesterday, after a weekend of constant running/ dancing/ talking/ laughing/ crying, I relaxed for a few hours with my family before my 4:45 flight back to Texas. I really wasn't at all ready to return to my "home" for my last month of teaching.
After a early mother's day lunch, my sister, sister-in-law, mom, and I begrudgingly situated ourselves in the car and started the hour long drive to the airport. When we got there, I said my goodbyes and sauntered inside to check in. Upon swiping my card, the attendant at the American Airlines counter informed me that they overbooked my flight. Memories of my flight cancellation from a few days earlier flooded me and I was about to revert to my diva reaction when he said
If you volunteer to stay behind, we'll give you a 500 flight voucher and you'll leave tomorrow on the same flight.
The Universe intervened in my favor. Not only was I given an opportunity to stay with my family for 24 more hours, but I now have enough money to buy a flight for my next trip, which has yet to be planned but is knowingly an inevitable occurrence. My clothes were sent to Texas so I've enjoyed my extra day in my my mom's oversized sweat pants and an old cotton t-shirt. It has been so lovely and so very needed.
En route to home, my cancelled flight induced stress and so much anger. Now, as I plan to go to the airport for the second time in two days, I couldn't be more grateful that someone in the American Airlines ticket office overbooked my flight. Today has been such a blessing.
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