Yesterday morning I spent from 7am until 8am on the phone with US travel agents who were just utterly hopeless. My hotel had lost power again so I thought I would walk up the road to the larger Pegasus hotel (the hotel where they found the dead cricket manager!). I popped inside and collected e-mail ...which they charged me $5 US !for (cheeky bastards). Then walked up to the air Jamaica office, being ever so careful to step over the power lines that were on the floor and the many downed trees. The clear up was fast and the locals were already out with chainsaws chopping up trees etc. It was really impressive - especially when u compair to how the US handled New Orleans. I arrived at Air Jamaica office only to find them without power and the staff sitting on the wall with note pads and cell phones trying to help. With help from my contacts (wink wink) I managed to get myself on a flight to Florida but I would have to leave immediately! Armed with just a scrap of paper with a locator (they took my credit card info on the phone etc!). I leg it back to the hotel throw everything into my bag, tell the team at the front desk since they couldn't check me out since their system was down we all had an honors system! The airport was chaos – masses of people in a panic to get into the doors and security staff being vigilant at the gates. Inside was worse as the power was down and no air conditioning and no computers but they were still trying to check people on! I manage to find the woman (irish woman) who was to help me and she got me a scrap of paper that confirmed me on the flight! Once inside the terminal it was bedlam just hordes an hordes of people in infernal heat with no relief in the dark. Thank God for my local cell phone since it kept me sane. There was one point were I thought I might pass out when I suddenly realized I hadn't eaten or drank since the night before and was still in the same filthy clothes that I'd slept in. (They thought another storm might hit in the night so I was scared not to be prepared). I'd not washed since we didn't have an water and I stank. Kassa called me frantic to check where I was since the Pegasus was on fire and there was no sign of fire trucks. I lay on the floor as the tiles were cool put my legs up on my suitcase and felt less dizzy. I put the ipod on an listened to Debussy then Joni Mitchell which seemed to really help.
It wasn't until 5pm that I got out of that place. People stayed calm and we all talked to each other, swapped numbers, made friends and cheers and applauded each time the lights went on (even though they seemed on only get these 10min bursts of power). I'm amazed they even got flights out. I'm amazed people didn't totally freak and fight an panic. I was happy too that as I lay on the floor I had some nice scenery as most of the guys in the terminal took off their shirts since it was so hot. At least I had that to be thankful for. But jeez I looked a mess.
By the time I reached Fort Lauderdale around 8pm I found a disabled toilet locked myself in like a crack head and stripped down for a sink wash. Yes dear chums it had to be done. I changed into the only clean clothes I had – a fancy frock and heels! And bought another new ticket on jet blue to Newark.
Now am here, in my business suit at work.
Please can I have another birthday... I think I lost this one.