Sh!? happens 6/24

As many of you already know, I did not make it on my flight to Zurich on Friday. Turns out you need a passport to get on the plane to a foreign country. The funny part is, well, not so funny part, is that at some point between the SFO airport and Newark, NJ airport my passport seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Here's the thing. I had my passport to get on the plane in SFO. I would gave put it back in my trendy neck pouch but the zipper was stuck and I had my foreign money in there. I decided to put it in my backpack with my wallet and didn't think anything of it. Until I got to Jersey. Until I needed to get on the plane. Until I realized it was gone.

I landed in NJ and made my way to my gate. I had my mobile passport on my phone (awesome new feature, btw) and went to retrieve my passport. I see my wallet, but no passport. I proceed to empty the contents of my backpack on the floor of gate 102 in terminal c. With every passing moment, more sweat starts to form on my head, I start to get short of breath, and my heart is about to beat out of my chest. After realizing it's nowhere to be found on me or my belongings, I head straight to the terminal desk.

The less than interested girl, who was texting on her phone and barely acknowledged me, looked less than amused by my story that my passport was gone and the plane was about to board in 5 minutes.

After leisurely making a call to the gate I was previously at to have them check the plane that I was on to see if I had left it on there, she tells me I have to wait aside for them to call her back with any information. In the meantime, I look up SFO's lost and found number and immediately talk to someone who had not received any reports of a found passport. After about 10 minutes, I check in with the bored desk agent who tells nothing has been found. She makes one last radio call to TSA, who has found nothing, and then gives me the string of bad news. I can't get on the plane. They are giving my seat to a person on standby. And the earliest I can be on a flight is Monday morning because all federal offices were going to be closed for the weekend. Cue the sad music. Cue the crying.

It's funny how your mind works when you are put in a tough situation. My first thought was sadness as I left my mom a message on her cell that I won't be meeting her in Zurich. I then get into action mode. I have to rebook my flight, which takes me about 30 minutes to do with another desk agent because he is "busy" on his cell and clicking away at his computer. I get my flight rebooked. Then, I realize I need a place to stay? Hotel? No! Lucky me! My friend Tom lives in Jersey! I immediately, and tearfully, ask how far he is from the airport and explain my sad story. He tells me he will be there in an hour. Thank baby Jesus!

I then get the number for the NYC passport office from "busy" ticket guy. He tells me to get all of my paperwork ready and passport pics taken ASAP and to make sure I am there first thing Monday morning to get my same day rush passport made and then head straight to the airport.

I go downstairs to claim my luggage and see that it's not there in carrousel 9 like "busy" guy said it would. I go to the unclaimed baggage area where the less than well mannered lady asks me for my sticker tag. Sadly enough, I tell her, it's in my passport, which is now lost. Sigh... After making some calls, she informs me they found my bag and I can now pick it up on carrousel 9.

I wait about 10 minutes and finally my luggage appears. I get a call from Tom who is waiting for me outside. When I finally see him pull up, I realize that I am going to be okay.

We make the drive to Tom's house as I make a series of teary phone calls. The first call goes to Ursula and the next to my aunt Debbie. They both reassure me that it will be okay and asked me if I need anything. The only thing I really needed was a drink. Tom buys me a huge bottle of vodka with a bottle if fruit juice. Upon arriving to his house, he makes me a giant mixed drink and orders a delicious pepperoni and garlic pizza. Once it arrives, I get down on 2 huge slices, realizing I hadn't eaten in almost 14 hours. Tom's friend Ian comes over and they both ask me to go out with them. Obviously I wasn't in the best mood. I decline and decide a shower and bedtime is all I care about. They head out. I shower and head to bed.

Not being able to sleep, I decide to call Combes' cell phone to see if everyone had landed. Ge answers and I tell him to hand the phone to my mom. In my most calm voice, I explain the situation to my mom, who immediately thinks I'm joking. I wish I was. I tell her my plan about flying out Monday and staying at Tom's all weekend. She is reassured that I am safe and we decide to talk again the next day. Exhausted and somewhat delerious, I decide to finally go to sleep. After all, I would need all the rest I could get to prepare me for the adventures I had throughout the weekend!