Everyone made it through the security without any problem. Well almost everyone. Ali, Megan, and Cat all had to open their carry on bags for further inspection. They did look shifty and Cat and Ali even had to be patted down. Now we do what all travelers do, we hurry up and wait. Once on the plane, the plan is to have folks download pictures so that we can share our memories. Also, next week each team member will write a short reflection and send it to Fr. Tom so that they be added to this blog and excerpts added to the article we will submit to the Nebraska Episcopalian.
While waiting for the flight, we visited with a team from Colorado that we met for the first time on the day we arrived. It was fun to compare notes and experience. We also visited with a Roman Catholic priest traveling back to the states for a visit. Once on the plane, we could not help but notice that somehow all three priests were in the same row, two on one side and one on the other. We figured it was a God thing. There was discussion of switching seats so that they could all be together, but we were not sure the pilot would be able to manage having that much Holy Spirit on one side of the plane.
Getting out of the Dominican Republic was no problem. We took off about 10 minutes late but that was easily made up and we arrived pretty much on time in Miami. Good thing we landed when we did. Right after we landed a big storm came in and closed the airport. Times and gates began switching quickly. When the rain stopped it took a long time for the planes to start moving. We later learned that Obama flew into Miami right after the rain stopped and they closed the airspace around the airport till he landed and deplaned. In the meantime the plane that was supposed to take us on to Chicago had to divert and get refueled before returning to Miami. It was 10pm before we took off. So how long does a planned 2 and 1/2 hour layover take... Can you say almost 5 hours?
With all this we of course missed our flight out of Chicago into Omaha. The agent said he could not book us tomorrow as a group because there were limited seats available to do so. So the agent told us to work it out when we get to Chicago. That should be interesting as we will land somewhere around midnight Chicago time. Needless to say several of the team members were less than enthusiastic about spending the night in the air terminal. The only good news if we get lucky to get out early tomorrow, we will spend a lot less time on the ground in Chicago.
We arrived in Chicago at midnight. Meeting with an AA rep we learned the earliest she could get us in was Wednesday. She could get some of us in come morning, but not all. So we went and used a direct line to AA reservations. They were able to get us into Omaha, not all on the same flight but we will get home later today. Six will fly direct to Omaha on two flights and the other five will fly to Dallas and then into Omaha. Our only other option was to get a refund and then drive back in a couple of vans.
Once the ticketing was taken care of we all hit McDonald's. It and Dunkin Donuts were the only two places open. Then we headed to the gate to wait for the first flight out of Chicago. The terminal was freezing. Thankfully a couple of maintenance workers took pity on us and found us some blankets. The next thing you knew, most of the team was fast asleep. What the morning still holds for us is yet to be seen. All we know is this has been a most interesting journey.
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