and so the saga began

Im not really sure how to begin, other than by saying it started off with a bang. Thursday itself hadnt been so great. In fact, I ended up crying during German again. What is it about German that makes me cry? I was stressing about, well, everything, so Mrs. Wallick allowed the whining rule to be lifted for the day. Thats when the tears came, as I sputtered through the physics and German and calculus of it all. You see, Ive contracted an awful disease called Senior-itis. For some unknown reason, I have no desire to be in high school any longer. I really cant imagine why. All I know, is that I was in great need of a vacation. Nashville was the perfect choice, and I couldnt wait to leave. It was the relaxation I needed. However, Nashville was one of the main sources of all my stress. It seems that by RECEIVING that break, I was basically making my life a living hell in terms of missing school. Everyone was demanding that I take a test when I got back, or that I turned in an assignment early. It occurred to me, somewhere during the waterworks of German, that perhaps the trip wasnt worth it.

At 3 oclock, I came back to school with my two suitcases. The one was green my own Samsonite suitcase and the other my parents black hanging suitcase. Alex helped me lift the green bag onto the truck. Apparently it was a bit muddy, thus covering his khakis, thus making him a bit upset. We boarded the bus, he was mad, and guess what happened on the way to the airport? Niagara Falls. Eventually the mud dried, could be brushed off, and Alex convinced me to be happy and become Combo Erin, but it was still kind of a crummy beginning to trip.

We arrived at the airport, dropped off all of the baggage (because we trust the airlines, dont we), and got through security with minimal searches. Upon arrival at our gate, we were informed that the plane was running about an hour late. Beautiful gave us time to eat. The combo was sitting across from a Taco Bell/Hot Dog place, minding our own business, munching down some chips, when Dr. T approached. He looked at me, informing me that one of my bags had been damaged and that I was to follow him to check it out. He was kidding of course he was kidding. How would they damage one of my bags before the plane even arrived?

He wasnt kidding. He, Cloe and I waited for a few minutes as the suitcase was brought up. Then we were escorted behind the gate counter to have a look. It fell off the baggage car, someone had said. But by the time I saw it, it looked as if it had been chewed up by one of the engines on the plane and spit back out. It was my green Samsonite suitcase the one that matches the carry-on that was back home the one they bought me for my trip to Germany that I never took. The entire corner of it was mutilated, and the entire back of it was smashed in, not to mention the thing was soaking wet. And my shoes were kind of sticking out

Ahh yes, the adorable silver shoes. The shoes that I wore to both PROM and HOMECOMING. The shoes that I neglected to tell my mother I had brought with me. Destroyed. Chewed up. Spit out.

Uhh, are you sure this thing just FELL OFF the cart? I was trying to be as nice as possible to Kristy, the airline attendant, but as far as I was concerned, this guy that brought up my suitcase was nothing but a stone-faced liar. Dr. T mentioned it looked like it had been run over or something. (Can we say understatement? I believe thats one of our English terms.) Anyway, he eventually came up with the story that it had fallen between the carts, thus being dragged for quite awhile. Yeah, and at only 10 mph at that sure Eventually they brought up a new suitcase to replace mine. Did you know they have replacement suitcases at the airport? I sure didnt apparently they have a wide variety too something to think about. So I unpacked, repacked, filled out a damage report (mostly for the shoes), and sat down with the combo.

Did I mention I wasnt having a good day?

By then the plane was supposed to be 2 ½ hours late. Everyone was getting a little punchy a little cranky but still we sat and waited. I was suddenly famous at one point when Kristy brought out the mutilated suitcase. Two of the choir girls definitely took my picture standing beside it whatever. In fact, I dont think I went for more than 2 hours the entire 5 days we spent on that trip without someone mentioning either that or my shoes. Eventually the plane arrived, the combo was first to board of the Top 25 people, and all was well for the duration of the flight.

to be continued