Hello, Philadelphia!

(Otherwise entitled: Well then. We knew it would be something.)

My day started out (sort of) with me remembering what it was I forgot – to pay daycare. So. Oops. At least I remembered. Then again, that wasn’t until I was already at ThePlaceThatShallNotBeNamed. I called daycare and made arrangements to drop off the check on Friday without any late charges. Now all I have to do is not lose the check. And, hey, maybe not using a $1000 check as a bookmark would be a good start.

Of course, that hasn’t been the end of my excitement. Oh, no. After that came the small matter of shutting down the city of Philadelphia. Seriously. I was walking back to my desk and my friend stopped me to ask if I’d heard that all public transit in Philadelphia was shut down.

Me: “…”

Because the transit workers went on strike at midnight.

Me again: “…”

Yeah, Kim doesn’t have a car. She doesn’t have her license. She uses – wait for it – the buses and trains and subways. Look, I am very sympathetic and supportive of unions. I support them and their causes. But did they have to shut down Philadelphia on the day of my debut? Especially when I’m scheduled to arrive at 5 p.m., the middle of rush hour?! Thankfully, my sister stepped out of her shower when I rang her up a bit panicked. She laughed and asked how I had found out. My reaction: “…!” To which she further explained that, as bizarre as it seems, her SEPTA system is somehow separate. We might have to elbow our way through the million-plus people who will be looking for alternative transportation (we did), but at least I won’t be stranded at the airport and at least she won’t make us sleep at the defense site.

After that, it seemed that I caught a break. Thank god. I had forgotten what it was like to travel alone. The last time I’ve gone off on my own was…let me count…eight years ago. I flew up to Massachusetts to pick out a wedding photographer and shop for bridesmaids’ dresses. I kinda dug the whole living-only-for-myself thing. I got to pee without stuffing so many people and bags into one tiny stall with such ease that even a clown would have been jealous of my mad skillz. I ate without once reminding someone to finish eating or to sit still. I got to relax in an airport recliner and delete over 125 old text messages while I waited for my flight. (I am a party animal.) I even – this was nice – spoke to two hotties I had been discretely eyeballing. They were standing behind me on the jetbridge, discussing the books they were reading. The one hottie I’d noticed especially happened to be reading a book I had read several times before. We talked for awhile. He even went out of his way to ask if I had read some other books by the same author. I looked for the two of them once we landed, but never saw them.

So. Yes, I’ve made it to Philadelphia and (after two hours due to the stupid strike) back to Kim’s Retreat. We’re all geared up for her defense tomorrow morning. Wish us luck! I’m feeling confident. Adventurefull. And, strangely, in need of a Phillies cap.

Tags: travel, vacation