The LONGEST Day . . .

Yesterday, I had to go to Wilmington, Delaware for work. The day started out okay; up at 5 a.m. and on my way to the airport by 5:30. I got there and the lines for security were huge. This is not typical for our airport at that time of day, and to top it off, they didn't have the business traveler line open ~ aagh! Fortunately, given that I was on a 7:15 flight, they let me go to the front. So I get through security and get to my gate as the flight is boarding. No time for breakfast. Great news, I have a row to myself so I'm thinking, okay day is looking up. Then we sit. We don't actually take off until 8 and then the Captain says that due to problems in Philly, we are in a holding pattern. We finally get out of that but we're told to go slow. I was supposed to arrive in Philly by 9, jump in a car and be to Wilmington by 9:30. I was interviewing a witness for one of my cases. I finally get to the interview, which was supposed to start at 10, around 10:30. Thankfully, the interview goes well and I'm back in a car on my way to Philly by 1. I was thrilled when I got to the airport in time to jump on the 2:15 flight (I was booked for the 3:15). So I get to the gate only to find that the plane isn't there yet. It arrived shortly and things were looking good. Then the fun began . . . the weather looked fine, talking to people in Boston, I learn the weather is fine there as well. We're not boarding and they are telling us nothing. This goes on for quite awhile. Fast forward to 4 p.m., still in the terminal, sky is starting to look dark, not surprising since severe storms were threatened for the late afternoon. All they are telling us is that they do not know when we will be departing. Fortunately, the gentleman at the desk is kind and tried to answer all questions. He finally admits the problem is both airports. It's not looking good. I call my secretary trying to find other ways to get back to Boston that night ~ no way was I staying in Philly. Trains are booked but I can take a car service. Still not sure what to do, trying to be optimistic that the flight would go. Suddenly, I look up and see one of the junior partners from my office. He too had been in Wilmington and just switched to my flight. I let him know the situation. He's optimistic the flight will go, I'm not. Then he gets a call from his wife, who tells him about the tornado warnings in New England. Decision made, we're getting a car service and the car should be there within a half hour. We wait, no car. I call the driver who says he'll be at least another 45 minutes. By this point, it's 5:30 so we decide to rent a car and drive. Best decision we could have made. No traffic, weather wasn't bad at all and I finally got home a little after 11 p.m. I had to check the flights to see if they actually went and guess what, all flights had been cancelled. YEAH!!! We made the right choice. I have no desire to return to Philly or Wilmington any time soon!