November 23, 2010
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Chicago, O’Harried
excerpts from an entry written the day I was stuck in Chicago, O’Hare
Stuck in Chicago O’Hare. As usual. I don’t understand why I’m here. First, I negligently forgot that I had a slew of appointments today when I normally am pretty on top of things like those. Next, I forgot that I hate Chicago. I hate flying in, I hate flying out. I even hate driving in. Of all my trips there (5+) only one was positive.
Here I find myself stuck in a major airport, planes lifting off and touching down to and from areas all around the world… scores of them, not unlike birds, migrating to and from their base, flight attendants cheerily wishing passengers a “Happy Thanksgiving,” or in some cases, “welcome home,” but in my case, “your flight has been canceled.” And all I can do about it is wonder how I’m going to keep from going nuts.
For your viewing pleasure: Some of the many things I learned during my layover in ORD: (That’s the airport code for Chicago, O’Hare, for those lucky few who don’t know.)
1. There are a lot of Asians. They all wear orange. If you look Asian, someone will look at you and say, “Nee how,” and expect you to be happy, even though you’re not Chinese.
2. In real life, sometimes McDonald’s fries don’t taste so awful after just 15 minutes. In Chicago O’Hare, you have to scarf them down before they turn into lumber.
3. 8 hours is a long time to kill.
4. Wireless internet is an invention that’ll be hard to top, not unlike sliced bread.
5. People can be happy to be at their destination, even if it took 8 hours longer than normal, and it’s 30 degrees colder. Celcius.
6. Sometimes you should do things, not because you think God has made it so that you’re supposed to do it, but because it’s what you do and who you are in any normal, unusual, or extraordinary circumstance. Translation: when you’re stuck at an airport, don’t freak out about divine appointments. God is always on time, and so are the people He wants you to meet. Sometimes the appointment is not with others, but with Him.