A Bump on the way home

Donna's return flights were different than Sharon's.  On Wednesday morning Donna left the hotel at 6:30 AM and traveled to the airport with two other RS travelers, then on to Paris, Detroit, and Chicago where Al (Sharon's husband) met her.  We left the hotel at 9:00 AM and traveled to the airport with about 10 others.  At check-in we were told that our plane had been delayed.  We left Istanbul an hour and fifteen minutes late.  On arrival at JFK in New York, we went through passport control, picked up our bags which were about the last ones off, and went through customs. We re-checked our bags where we were told that if we ran we could make our flight to Chicago.  Sharon started race walking from the far end of one concourse to the far end of another concourse. Chuck followed and I trailed along.  When we reached the gate, the doors were shut and we were out of luck.  The man looked at his watch and said, "It is 6:46 and your plane left at 6:45."  I'm sure it was still at the end of the jetway.  We were exhausted and sweating (again).  Went to the service counter and got vouchers for taxi rides, hotel, and food.  Caught a taxi to the Allegra Hotel which was 30 minutes away on Long Beach on Long Island.  It was a beautiful hotel on the board walk.  We arrived in the dark and left at 5:30 AM in the dark. Had breakfast at the airport, boarded our plane, and landed in Chicago.  Sharon's daughter, Kristi met us.  Chuck and I caught the bus to Rockford.  Nancy and Larry met us and we had lunch at Steak 'N Shake.
It is good to be home and breathe in this cool Illinois air!