Hurry Up and Wait

 Hurry up and wait is a theme of travel for me.  Acknowledging this pattern allows me to move more smoothly through the stages.  It was very relevant on this first day, as I rushed around the day prior and the morning of to get all the last details in order and then re-pack my bag, stuffing last items in and abusing the zippers.  Trying to get out the door with La by noon, for him to zip us to the train station.

 

I arrived in good time, the train is running late.  Hurry up and wait!  Hustle and then sit or run and then wait in line for an hour.  It’s the ebb and flow.   Accepting that waiting is integral and knowing that planned elements will change allows for ease.  My train to New York was then seamless transitions to the Long Island Railroad to then the JFK Air Tram (following significant research).  It all lined up!  I got to JFK 5 hours before my plane departed, way too far ahead, but better wait than hurry through NYC rush hour trains!!!

Later a storm passed through while I was at the gate at JFK, the airport ceased operations for an hour, so our flight was delayed two hours.  I waited, patiently, appreciating that I could sit or walk the terminal instead of being stuck on the plane for that time.  

Bringing my dinner to avoid paying $20 for a terrible airport sandwich.  I’d rather wait for the delicious meals ahead!

 

Last year, I was flying home from Sweden after visiting friends and  at the airport quite early, they had just started allowing people to check bags, everyone was on the same flight.  We had been in 3 lines for a while, sifting through to the attendants as they opened to check the next person.  We were all going to the same place with ample time.  When I was at the front of the line, we were shuffling with the other lines to check our bags, when I was first in my line, I let someone at the front of another line go before me.  Then I got pushed on the shoulder from behind.  Turning around quickly, with a “please don’t touch me”, an overly anxious person said “you should have gone”.  Stressing too much about the hurry up, they didn’t acknowledge the 2.5 plus hours we still had to wait.