Some Hiccups, an unexpected delay, and challenges in traveling

You hear horror stories from people who have had flights canceled, missed flights, and unbelievable delays in traveling on planes.  I figured since the day was bright, sunny, although hot, I would get to a conference on time. Ah, no.

A 5:30 PM flight which was supposed to take me to a conference, didn't.  I won't name the airline, but I was still at the airport at 11:30 PM Wednesday night when we were told that the flight had been canceled.  Some of my fellow travelers and I had banded together in an effort to get on an another airline. There were no available flights for the rest of the night. I had someone call my hotel and tell them to hold the room for me.  We also left a message for the desk to tell my hotel roomie that I would be late getting to the conference and to please let her in the room.

Challenge Number One.  I have an ancient text only Blackberry, which was useless in searching for other available flights. Others had laptops, i-pads and i-phones, smartphones, cell phones.

Challenge Number Two:  Telling the airline staff that I was a person with a hearing disability who wouldn't be able to understand the public address system when flight announcements were necessary.

Challenge Number Three: Being a solo traveler with a hearing disability.

Challenge Number Four: Getting a message to my hotel roomie, who is also a person with a hearing disability.

I wound up getting to the conference the next evening and missing a whole day of the conference.  My hotel roomie and I found each other on the escalator of the hotel and gave each other a big hug.  She was equally glad to see me as I was to see her.  I was just so glad to finally make to the conference.

I still had fun.  It was good to get away for a few days.  I made new friends, reunited with friends from the previous conference, and got to play tourist a bit.

Next year, the conference will be on the West Coast.  I plan to make a vacation out of it and arrive at the beginning of the week!  I also plan to fly a different airline and get a non-stop flight.

Lessons Learned.

Hearing bilaterally with cochlear implants is still a gift.