Sunday the 19th, my supposedly last day in Italy, was spent showing Jaclyn around the city and saying goodbye to friends. Rumor had it that there was more snow coming and airports were getting messed up, but as far as we could tell our flight was still on for the next day. The at 9pm at night, 12 hours before we were supposed to fly to Frankfurt and then New York, Lufthansa posted online that our flight was cancelled, simply as that. Naturally we all flew into a panic, not having cell phones or even reliable Internet. Sara Abad finally got through to Lufthansa only to find out the soonest they could get us out was Wednesday the 23rd, two days before Christmas. This meant I was missing my non-refundable (as my father was quick to point out) flight from New York to Salt Lake and would have to attempt to non-rev home two days before Christmas. I tried to still make sure Jaclyn was enjoying her last night in Italy, yet couldn't help breaking down and crying at the thought of being stuck somewhere for Christmas, not knowing when I was going to get out, not knowing where I could stay, having no food, and only about 12 euros left.
After finally getting through to my parents, decided I was going to try to fly stand by home from Rome on the same flight as Jaclyn Monday morning. This meant taking the 5 am train to Rome, with two giant bags, navigating the over run airport, and maybe not even getting a seat. Once I turned off my computer that night I received a flood of emails from my parents telling me not to do it, but the next morning I was on the train to Rome, taking out people left and right with my giant bags but I didn't care, I wanted to be home.
By some Christmas Miracle I made it on the flight, first class too! I still think I owe the universe a huge favor for letting that happen. When the gate agent called my name I almost hugged her! All's well that ends well, I made it to New York, shared a hotel with Jaclyn, and got on my fight home the next morning to Salt Lake City. I never thought I would be so happy to be out of Italy.
Just to add a correction to your account of this traumatic night. We told you to try to fly home as a no-class, no-count, no-seat, non-revenue passager only AFTER you had your rescheduled Lufthansa ticket in your back pocket. Because if you hadn't made the Rome flight as a Delta kid, there was no way you'd be home before Easter!!But, in typical Sarah fashion, you made your own luck. You got up at 3 am, made both trains, figured out the confusion that is mass transit in Rome, figured out the chaos that is the Rome airport and got a seat. I hope you slept the whole way home. We were ecstatic when we saw you made the plane, made your hotel, and made your paid for flight from JFK to SLC. Merry christmas to all! That was my best present. WElcome back to American soil where I can call you whenver I want.
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