ADVENTURES LEAVING SLC

I thought I had calculated exact change, but when I checked while waiting at the side of steeply sloped road for the bus, I couldn’t find it. Ion’t know what happened to the one dollar bill that I thought I had saved, but I had to use a $5 bill. The fee is only $2.50, but since I was starting my business trip in the boonies and I could only pay cash. (I couldn’t buy alcohol at a state liquor store or bus/tram tickets on the app being something other than a US citizen!). I get on the bus and I end up texting my boyfriend in this emotionally intense conversation and miss my stop. I only realize when I see that  we are going OVER an highway overpass instead of being downtown!

I run to the driver which is not easy with a roller suitcase at highway speeds, and she confirms that I have gone to far. I ask what to do and she says get off and go across the street to head back. This morning I was more concerned about cutting into my sleep when I left for the bus this morning because there is no customs to clear, so I only gave myself 2.5 hours from door to gate. I am beginning to panic a little, feeling like I might have been a little cocky and lazy as the route by bus is slow already, and the detour wasn’t at all in the plans. I see the bus coming and run across the street with my roller bag hopping, only to see no bus stop. A helpful man told me I had to cross another part of the intersection, and instead of saying thank you, the only word I uttered was, Fuck! 

I am now running, jay RUNNING across the street to try and stay ahead of the bus that is just abreast of me at the red light, hoping that it will be enough for him to stop. I manage to get across safely before he can pull forward but I don’t see the sign. I run, and just as he is pulling up, I get to it. It was hard to see behind the foliage of a tree. I get on with a total relief, huffing and puffing,and take out the paper transfer that I haven’t seen since I lived in Regina,and the driver says, it’s not validated! 

Anyways, he tells me how it should be but lets me on and I watch like a hawk out the window as my BF tries to video call and text. I don’t dare answer even though I have regrettably left him totally hanging and he might think that I am stonewalling, but I can’t miss the junction where the tram to the airport starts. I get off, and I call immediately to finish the conversation. I can do nothing but wait. 

The tram comes. It’s not fast but it’s reliable. I get off at the airport. It’s 8:45 and I have to 9:15 to get my bag checked. The place is big, and I find the check-in. It’s super easy with almost no wait, and again, I take a deep breath and sigh with relief. The TSA is automated and it’s so fast that I get through painlessly (there were a LOT of people waiting) and am waiting for my bags, only to realize that I had been the slow part, and they were already at the end where I wasn’t looking! 

I get to the gate at 9 and go to find some food, only to realize that I didn’t have my wallet to pay! So now it’s 9:15 and I ask the poor busy cashier what to do. He sends me to information, and I find two big signs that are, in my defence, labelled as information too, only to realize that I missed the human in the middle. I use his table to empty everything out from my bag to double check that I didn’t misplace my wallet (because how many times has that happened that I think it’s lost but it’s there somewhere). I don’t find it with a sinking feeling, because now I am faced with the problem of looking for my wallet or making my flight.

Brad was the helpful man at the information podium, and he calls the TSA and describes the wallet.  I remember two things: I had my wallet until I used my passport at the ID station to get into security and then I put it away, and when I picked up my backpack from the screening it was wide open. Fortunately I packed up by habit dividing my valuables so that only $26 USD were at stake with the rest stowed at the bottom of my backpack, and I had my passport. Brad suggests I could back to the TSA but now it’s less than 30 minutes before takeoff and there is quite a distance back. I lock my visa that I lost, mourned my health ID that were going to be a pain to replace, but I leave him with regret and  head off  to my gate.

He heads off to TSA for me and says he’ll text either way. I am the last group so it’s 20 minutes later. I am just about to join the line that is ending, when here comes Brad huffing and puffing with my wallet triumphantly upraised in his hand! I ask if I can hug him, and I squeeze him like he saved my life and tell him he’s my hero while I hustle to be the last person to board the plane, elated!