Embracing My Youth

After two days of a hectic and productive visit to Chicago, I arrived back at O'hare airport ready to sleep on the plane ride home. There was just over an hour left before my flight and no one around for outside baggage check. I visited the self-serve ticketron only to find that my ticket wasn't recognized. I proceeded to the American Airlines ticket counter followed by several teenage boys. They were concerned about missing their flight so I waved all of them ahead of me. Happy that I'd made someone else's trip a little more smooth, I waited patiently for my turn.

I checked my bag but when I handed the attendant my credit card she said that unless Ronnie was with me she couldn't use it. I tried to call Ronnie so that he could transfer some money to my card, but he was in a movie. I had $14.00 and some change left in my wallet. None of this should have been a big deal, but it seemed that way at the time and was made worse by the fact that it I really was in the wrong (yes - I should have shopped less and planned better). I probably shouldn't have expected to use his card but had never before had a problem. I was running late, had not eaten and wanted to grab a granola bar so I could take my meds. I was tired and had just discovered the gate was a LONG walk away. I explained that I had planned to self check in and the machine would take anyone's card and apologized. She told me she was going to keep the card. I asked her to just give the card back and that I would go to the ATM. She replied that she couldn't do that and then told me there was no reason for me to even check the bag that I could just carry it on the plane. I told her that I had a long two days and would prefer not to have to lug the bag. She continued... and went on to say that 80 year old people carry on bags and I should be ashamed to be lazy - I should embrace my youth. I absorbed these words. I knew that if I used my cash I would have nothing to eat and I needed to take something for pain as well as my Nexavar. This poor woman was totally unemotional. I pulled the cancer card that I never pull. I was in tears by then - chalk it up to fatigue, I suppose, and said ok....just give me my bag back and I'll carry it. Time was running out. She couldn't/wouldn't even do that at this point because she already had it in the system. I asked to speak to a manager and then finally just counted out every last penny and the attendant next to her, looked up, said she was terribly sorry, and pitched in the last quarter to pay for my bag. As I walked away, my attendant was typing wholeheartedly - (I'm positive remarks about how difficult I had been). Still in tears that for some reason wouldn't stop, I was held and patted down in the security line (meaning I had to get out all my port paperwork) and then I had to RUN to make it in time to board the plane and now had no credit card even to pay for a snack on the plane. At the time, my emotions were running pretty high. Had it been another time I would have probably just rolled with all of it.

A few days later, the incident still bothers me. I suffered no ill effects but wonder about the person who might not be able to do without that snack or might have been bullied into carrying a suitcase that they really might not need to lug.

I look healthy. To those who don't know my story there is probably little reason to think that I couldn't carry my bag. Looks can be deceiving. I am embracing my youth today....and conserving my energy so that I can do the youthful things that bring me joy.