the jumble blog

Today I arrived at the airport at six o’clock to find that the 6.15 flight suffered from one of those “technical reasons” which sets one aircraft into the much hated cathegory of “no go”. That the plane was a “no go” flight was known since two A.M.

But nothing had been done by the night staff on duty, so the check in pool arriving at five just checked in passengers as if the flight was a “go” flight.

I was already tired to death after a bad night. Then the voice over the tarmac announced the flight was “delayed”. One hundred and eighty three passengers materialized in front of me showing their boarding passes and crying outrage.

I hadn’t got the slightest clue about what was going on. I hadn’t even taken off my coat, and my computer was still off. No one had briefed me.

I couldn’t think what to do. Decisions are easy to take if you have had time to plan, to check alternatives. But not easy when one hundred and eighty three people are shouting at you “I have a business meeting” “I have a medical appointment” “I have a connecting flight” “I have TWO connecting flights” “I have paid and I have my rights” at the same time, you don’t know what is happening and you are alone.

I was in shock: I could not digest that the people who had been in charge of the flight had actually done nothing, had not even informed the check in pool or the passengers.

One of my workmates came to my aid. My personal saviour grabbed my arm, shouted “one moment please” in the general direction of the shouting mob, took me to the inside office and thrusted a hot cup of coffee into my hands. “React, Alexa. I’m by your side. We’ll deal with this together. Come on, drink, breathe deep and let’s fight”.

It took hours until the mob cleared up. In the midst of deafening insults and threats she stood by me.  It was not her duty to be there suffering abuse and stress.

A friend who is by your side when times are dark. Those are the ones that count.

Beautiful, clever, witty, faithful, lovely Maria del Carmen N.

Here’s to you, my friend.

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