Breakfast at DFW

I've finally been on an airplane frequently enough that I have "status" which occasionally grants me a free upgrade on a flight.

This unfortunately does not free me from any of the other aggravations of modern travel.

Yes, yes, flight is a miracle, I appreciate the fact in a few hours I can be anywhere in the world, whatever.  I am one of those rare people who does not blame the airlines for poor weather.

But it would be nice for this gypsy to be able to contract for a seat on an airplane that is equipped to take to the air.  The last several flights I have been on -rather, SUPPOSED to be on- were either cancelled or greatly delayed. This caused me to miss the last flight back to my home on more than one occasion.

Today, I was smart. I intentionally took the longer layovers to prevent just this thing.

However, the airport was one ahead of me.

This time, the Skylink at DFW was on the blink. Last time, it decided it was tired and simply did not move for about 20 minutes or so.  Today, the Skylink was moving just fine... It just didn't stop.  After watching 8 trains whip by without stopping, listening to an airport employee explaining the problem to someone on a speaker, and deciding I like to walk, anyway, I asked how to get to Terminal E from B by walking.  Turns out that is impossible, as it is a detached terminal.  So I could stick it out with the increasingly irritable crowd, or leave the terminal, take a bus, and go back through security.

That seemed rather more pleasant.

AND IT TOTALLY WAS!!

I made friends on the bus (since it was a half hour ride!) and we talked about all the places we traveled.  One woman is an avid scuba diver and she shared stories of the Great Coral Reef.  One man has been on every continent.  I decided to pretend I've  never been on a plane before.  Everyone was really nice and had lots of advice. There was an airport information worker just checking in. He wore a huge cowboy hat and had lots of fun facts about DFW... did you know that Manhattan Island would fit inside DFW?  Or that there are two 18-hole golf courses on one side of the property?

We chatted and had fun and the bus driver even chimed in.  He is from Houston originally, but likes Dallas better -moved here for a girl who eventually became his wife.

As I stepped off at my stop, the information worker sent me the wrong direction, but that's okay. He has only been doing the job for two weeks.

And I have a long layover, and I could use the walk.