Don't Forget Your Flexibility

Sometimes, things just don't go as planned. Today was not my day for public transportation.

I am scheduled to be on a flight to Amsterdam right now. I'm not on it. At 7am this morning my wonderful mother, who I just know is all ready for me to be home so we can go shopping, calls to tell me that Washington won't accept any flights due to snow predictions. That means I won't get my second or third flight. Yet my first flight from Duesseldorf to Amsterdam is still supposedly a go.

What to do, what to do?

Luggage dragging, the sun not yet up, and frigid temperatures outside, the choice is made. Taxi to the train station and an hour and a half train ride to the Duesseldorf airport.

Trains are a wonderful invention. Yet, it never fails. When you have a plane to catch, something will go wrong.

Half way to Duesseldorf, the train slows down. And stops. Chemical spill on the tracks. The route has been shut down. At this point, you mainly have two options. Sit for hours on a stationary train. Or get off and go out into the cold world to try your luck with something else. Man, it is cold.

Dozens of people watching their breath and huddling into themselves are standing outside awaiting taxis, or rides, or for some magic bus to come and get them. The taxi to Duesseldorf will be more than 120 Euros. And no guarantee I'll make my flight. Coffee in the warm train station cafe is 2 Euro and 10 cents. The coffee wins. It's time to call the airline and catch a train back to Aachen. Sometimes you have to call it a day.

After a few conversations with other cranky train passengers and a hot cup of coffee, there is good news. All of my flights have been canceled. Really, that is good news. That means they will have to re-book me for tomorrow.

On the way home, our main street is shut down. There's been a gas explosion in someone's apartment.

Let's try again tomorrow. Only this time I need to be up at 4am to catch the train to Duesseldorf at 5am. Detroit or bust. Flexibility is packed.