So I was awakened at 7 am with a text from AA saying my 1:36 flight was already delayed about 1 hour into Philadelphia, cutting my comfy 2.3 hour connection for my flight to Glasgow to just about one hour. Still doable but since there’s nothing but beautiful weather between Chicago and Philadelphia it seemed odd.

I looked into what was going on and apparently a 7 am flight between Providence and Philly was having delays and it caused a cascading effect of delays on three subsequent flights. Still a mystery about the original delay. And worrisome because I heard a horror story about an international transfer through Philly that involved lots of running through the airport and much panic with closing plane doors as they ran onboard.

Not how I wanted to start my chill 4.5 month trip … but I finished packing and tried to give Luca last- minute directions as well as arrange the house better for him.

Finally at 9 I had the brilliant idea to see if there was an earlier flight out that I could catch and avoid this problematic one I was booked on. There’s apparently severe weather somewhere in the US because the line said it would be a 30-40 minute wait but they could “keep my place in line” and call me back.

At 945 I spoke with a lovely AA agent (how often do you hear anyone say that?!) who said there was an 1150 flight that had availability and was on time. But if I switched and missed it, I wasn’t guaranteed to get on my originally scheduled 136 flight. Quite the quandary. The bird in hand or … (ok not exactly two in the bush but you get what I mean). And having to consider Chicago traffic with O’Hare security lines made a two hour window until takeoff iffy. But my wonderful agent suggested I race to O’Hare without rebooking and try to change once safely ensconced in the beautiful confines of O’Hare.

Needless to say, Luca, Arailym (who’s in town this weekend) and I raced out without shower or much second thought. And with my son’s NY-trained driving and TSA pre, I made it through traffic and security and to the gate in record time. And somehow managed to talk my way into the change by the reluctant (but kind) gate agent without a fee. So although I’ll have a 5 hour layover in Philly, I’ll be calm and zen (!) when I board for Scotland.

The saga begins …. no shower, no makeup, no food … but all in all pretty happy about it. At least I should get there in time and I can take care of everything at the Philly airport (except the bathing I guess).

Goodbye Chicago!!