Day 216

Up early enough...again. This time I had cuddles from my puppies though, which just made me want to stay in bed longer. When I did finally get up, I got my suitcase together, grabbed some toast, and sat down to watch the soccer game with my Dad. After breakfast, it was time for me to get my act together. My Dad had to leave, so I had a tearful goodbye with him, and finished my hair as the moron window guy showed up. It was his fault I didn't get to say bye to my puppies, and it's only just occurred to me :(

My Mom and I left the house, made a quick stop at Zellers to pick up some last minute essentials, and then drove to the airport. We sat down for a coffee at Starbucks, and soon enough, I was in tears. I was saying bye to my Mom, and I couldn't hold them in. Next thing I knew, I was going through security bawling my eyes out. I was trying to hide it, but it was way too obvious. Bloodshot eyes, tear streaked cheeks. Everyone knew I did not want to be leaving. Security people tried to make me smile. I managed to crack one through the sadness. I haI d to give them one for trying. I waved goodbye to my Mom for what must have been the 5th time, and using every ounce of will power that I have, I walked to my gate, tears still streaming down my face. I saw my gate, sat down, and continued to cry. A little guy made me smile a couple of times, but I was not happy.

I got on the plane, walked to my seat, and someone was sitting in it. Awesome. I told the guy I thought he was in my seat, and he looked at me as if he didn't understand. I wasn't having this! I showed him my ticket, and he tried to tell me F wasn't the window seat. Instead of paying attention to him, I looked the other way. He got up and moved over. I sat down, went to sleep, and minutes later tears rolling down my cheek woke me up. I wiped them away, and went back to sleep. It was when the announcement came on overhead, telling us we were landing, that I woke up. Just in time for all the turbulance. GREAT! Eventually we landed, I got off the plane, got my luggage and continued upstairs to departures on my quest for confusion. Little did I know that confusion would be the easiest thing to find.

No one knew what was going on. One British Airways flight had no information beside it on the screen, and ours said canceled. Their counters were closed til 5:30, it was only 4:30, and there was no one around to ask what was going on. Not to mention the fact that I couldn't find the Crystal tour guide I was meant to find. I stood at the front of the line for British Airways customers waiting for someone to come. Other customers came and asked me questions. They seemed to be just as confused. Eventually I went for a walk to see if anyone who worked there knew anything about the Crystal group, or anything else. They didn't. Back to the line I went.

British Airway members started filing out of the back somewhere, and all of a sudden got swarmed by people. I was asked if I was supposed to be flying with them, I said yes, they asked me to hang on, and then started asking all these other people's questions. Fed up after about the 5th person who I knew had not been waiting anywhere near where I was, I asked a lady if I was in the wrong place to ask questions. She told me I wasn't, and then proceeded to tell me what was going on, that our flight definitely was canceled, and that the Crystal coordinator should be around soon. I was asked to wait where I was. Someone else approached me a little later, asked if I'd been helped, and gave me a little more information. She then asked me to wait where I was as well. Someone else approached me with a coupon for a hotel, and I explained that I had to wait until the rest of my party arrived. She told me to have a seat and said she'd page the Crystal girl for me. I sat down, heard the page, and waited. Nothing. The lady who seemed to be organizing everyone, employees and customers, walked towards me. She asked if I was ok. I said yes, then paused, and said well...no. She asked what was up, and I had to begin explaining from the beginning. She was very patient. She told me the Crystal girl wasn't there yet, and wouldn't be there until 6. I said that was good, and just wasn't sure if my cousins would be mad if I didn't find her. She told me if they got mad at me, to send them her way :p I sat back down to wait, and shortly after, the Crystal girl arrived. The head lady introduced me, and then the two of us sat and talked until the bus load arrived.

When the bus pulled up, we went outside to meet up with everyone. It was here that I received a surprise. Zach got off the bus, called my name and like...ran towards me! He was so happy to see me! So was Nathaniel. It was awesome. They had a ton of stories to tell me, and I kept the 3 of them occupied while Heloise and Tim figured out what was going on.

Everyone, including me, got on the bus and were driven literally across the street to the hotel. We got out, and again, I kept the boys amused while plans were being sorted. Eventually plans were made for us to come to the downtown hotel. The 6 of us hopped in a taxi, and took a drive. It was a quick and easy check in, and we went up to our rooms. The boys have one, Tim and Heloise another, and I have my own too! Free internet, food vouchers, and a giant room...this isn't bad at all! I wouldn't mind sticking around. We had dinner pretty much right away, and after that got an early night.