Lemonade in DC

You may be wondering what sort of shenanigans we’re getting up to in Portugal. How’s the surfing? How’s the port wine? How’s the ham?

We’ll let you know!

When we get there. Soon.

As we were leaving for the Columbus airport on Thursday evening, I picked up my bag and phone and saw the message you never want to see: “We’re sorry; your flight has been cancelled.”

Uncle Pat and Aunt Sarah and Scotty and Delores flew into overdrive, ordering dinner and corralling kids while Bill and I dialed the airline right away. 37 minutes later, I was attempting to problem-solve with a lady who kept undermining my confidence by saying things like “Houston” and giving me 11-digit phone numbers to call. So when she told me the next available flight was 3 days away, I didn’t believe her for a second.

We stole a set of keys, abandoned the kids, and drove the 25 minutes to the airport to talk to someone in person. Amazing Selma stayed an hour after her shift ended to think creatively with us when it became apparent the next available flight was indeed 3 days away. 34 minutes later we drove home with plane tickets for Cleveland to DC the next afternoon, and on to Lisbon on the 5th.

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Pat graciously and cheerfully put up with us for one more night, then Scotty drove us the 2 hours up to Cleveland in the morning.

As we were finishing lunch in the Cleveland airport on Friday afternoon, I picked up my bag and phone and saw the message you never want to see: “We’re sorry; your flight has been cancelled.”

At which point we didn’t even bother trying for another flight. We hightailed it to the rental car agency and got ourselves a vehicle.

6.5 hours later, we checked into a hotel in Arlington, VA, just on the other side of the Potomac from the Mall, ready to spend our waiting time at various Smithsonians and national landmarks.

We picked and choosed some things in the Castle and Natural History and African American and National Art Museums. And we gazed at Lincoln and the White House and the Washington Monument and Arlington Cemetery.

And now we’re on our way to Lisbon. A few days late, true. But 3 days out of 60-something ain’t a bad ratio.

Now let’s do Portugal!