A Day in the Life

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Des Moines. Loaded out gear at 9 a.m. Back to hotel. Shower. Off to airport. Return rental car. Drag luggage through snow to terminal. Check in. Clear Security. Grab a bite and a beer. Wait. Catch 5:07 to Atlanta. Plane is 20 minutes late throwing VERY TIGHT connection timing off. Board plane. Fly approximately 2 hours to Atlanta. Arrive Atlanta late, of course. Just 15 minutes to make gate and next flight to New Hampshire. Deplane. Get new gate assignment for next flight. Not good. Must go to another terminal building. Begin running. Run down escalator. Run to tram. Wait for tram. Grab tram. Exit tram. Run 40 gates. Can see gate in distance. Legs start to cramp. Stop for moment. Catch breath. Begin again, only slower. MUCH slower. Can't possibly make it. Must try. Trudge on. Finally, make gate. Cabin door still open! Find boarding passes. Give to attendant. Attendant takes and says, "you're OK. You made it"! Get on plane just before door closes. Sweating profusely, slide, exhausted, into seat. Fly 2 hours to Manchester, New Hampshire. Land. Deplane. Go to luggage carousel. Wait. Miraculously, luggage makes it (bless you Delta)! Rent car. Have to walk another half mile to pick up car. Start car. Drive to hotel. Check in. 12:45 a.m. Crash by 1:30. Sleep for 6 hours (a luxury). Crew call at 8. All in a days work. Very glamorous. Indeed.