MLW: I'm coming home

Dear That's Life,

It is nice to go away, but it is even nicer to come home.

Getting home, however, was not as easy as it should have been for many travelers who flew the coop this winter break. The snowstorm which hit the area impeded the return of many travelers, including the Wallachs and the other family with whom we were vacationing in Florida. Fully aware of the airport closures, delays and cancellations that already plagued thousands of airline passengers, we were prepared to deal with whatever came our way once we arrived at the airport.

We never got that far. The 12-passenger van we had rented for our two families (a whole other story, for a rainy day) had been packed to the gills. We were loaded and ready to head home, kids buckLed in their car seats. An assortment of snacks had been packed for the flight which, according to the website, was still on time and had a gate assignment. And you know how it is — when you are mentally prepared to go home, it is time to go. We were about a mile away from where we were staying, however, when an email came out informing us that our flight had been cancelled.

We returned back to where we were staying and began to unload the van. The kids jumped for joy as if it was a snow day, which, in effect, it was. My husband began his mental plan of attack as to how he was now going to handle getting us new flights home. Our airline gives only a 24 hour grace period for a new return flight before charging fees and none of us wanted to on a Friday. We knew this was not going to be simple. And I, having already been set to go back to New York, would not get out of the van.