A Month in the Life

Family

I should say that I am a very family oriented person. When it comes down to it your family (and God, obviously) is all you have. I have been blessed with the best family, brothers and parents, one could ask for. I love them all dearly. I will put a pic of my family up too. I am all about putting a face with a name. It makes stories more fun.

L-R: Rob, Mom, Wesley, and meCan't leave out Dad :)

L-R: Rob, Dad, and Wesley

Airport

See I told you I am already off on a tangent. Back to the story: So I left Rogers, Arkansas at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon en route to Tulsa, Oklahoma to fly out. Rogers is approximately two hours out. My flight was planned to take off at 6:35 pm, so I arrived two hours early. When I checked in I was told that my flight was delayed till 7:30. I was succumbed to the fact that I was there three hours early and there was nothing I could do about it. So, I made about five trips back and forth across the airport and then wandered into a gift shop. Those shops are highway robbery. I finally wandered over to my gate and my new home.

New Sport: People Watching

So I like to people watch, I’m guilty. People just fascinate me. I also don’t meet strangers, rarely ever. It didn’t take long for me to meet my neighbors, two brothers (in their forties) and their mother. They wrestled in college and their father is in the Hall of Fame for Wrestling (real wrestling not WWF). My brothers wrestled in high school also, so this intrigued me. My other neighbor was on her way to a business meeting in Dallas. I was also getting the mean mug from a guy across the room; every time I looked up I was getting the stare down. Crazy stuff. Anyway, as the minutes tick by I start to notice everything. This “not skinny” person’s, that looked like he was the line backer for the Titans to my right, phone starts ringing. Guess what the ringer was? “When the Saints Go Marching In”. Quite funny; quite religious. Also, did I mention that I managed to plant myself directly under an air vent? I was in a frigid state. Well, as the minute’s draaaag by they kept delaying my flight, three times in fact. The airline guy, bless his heart, was as passionate as Rosie O’Donnell. No seriously. Every time he made an announcement he ended, or interjected several times with a “ HALLAAYYYLLEEEJJUUAAHH”. I of course cannot hide my facial expressions, so all eyes were on me every time he made an announcement, my eyes would get big and everyone would start laughing. I finally walked on the plane at around 9 pm, two and a half hours late. We take off around 9:15. I had been in Tulsa for over almost seven hours.

Thank you Jesus

I arrive in Dallas at around 10:30 pm and was informed that I had missed my connecting flight to Nashville. Great! I immediately get in line to figure out what my options are. The not so helpful lady asks me if I want a “discounted room”. HOLD UP. You delay my plane three times, cause me to miss my flight and I’m supposed to pay for my lodging? I missed the part where that’s my problem. Of course I said none of this, but I sure thought it. At this point I should thank God that I have arrived in one piece and that I am Pentecostal. Why Pentecostal do you ask? Because due to this (quizzing, camp, congress, conference) I know people across the United States. I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up the phone and call my friend Diana [Alford] to explain my dilemma. She came straight there. Meanwhile I was informed that they locked my luggage up for the night. Meaning no clean clothes, toothbrush, hairbrush, phone chargers, nothing. I was stuck.

Exasperated

As I wait for my ride, I begin to make phone calls. I call my boss and Barry. I then start to vent about my events for the weekend. Poor thing. When Diana showed up she had a full car and I felt so bad. I with the rough day I had had, had overlooked that it was her BIRTHDAY and that her family and friends were in town to visit her. Bless her heart; in times like these you learn you true friends. She took the whole convoy to the airport to get me and insisted on not leaving me there overnight.

Day #2 in Journey

After only a few hours of sleep I made it back to the airport at about 8 am. My flight left at 10:15 and I arrived back in Nashville at noon. After a 20 minute depressing search for my luggage I spot it propped up in the baggage claim office. I said, this is my luggage, to which they replied it came in on a different flight. ??? What? Whatever. I was so over the weekend. They didn’t ask for ID or anything. They went on my honest image alone (I’m assuming) and just let me take the luggage.

So, after 22 hours I finally made it back to Nashville and went straight to work. I tell you, I feel like these things only happen to me. You don’t realize how blessed you truly are until you go through the trials and realize, ya know what? Things may be crazy but they always, always work out in the end. And hey, I just try to enjoy the ride!! :)


-Chauntay

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!