Day 39: Purgatory Sucks

I am sitting in the airport in Aniak, AK, awaiting confirmation that they are sending another plane from Bethel to take me to Bethel where I will spending Thanksgiving with my friend, Michael. The weather has been crappy for the past three days. I was literally on the runway in Holy Cross two days ago when the pilot got the call that the flight from Aniak to Bethel was canceled. For those that don’t understand Alaska airline travel, do not try to understand. It is an arbitrary and capricious existence. But they do their best. Kind of.

Before I boarded the plane in Holy Cross, I called to confirm that there was a flight going to Bethel today. The person on the phone said yes. They know me by name now when I call. What the person failed to mention is that the morning flight was full and I would be on the evening flight. And now, the receptionist and I are staring at the falling snow across the land that is falling into darkness. The odds are fifty-fifty at this point.

Any other time or location, this would be A minor inconvenience, but I am in the middle of Alaska where there is no escape. There is a couple of places of lodging that, I am told, are grossly overpriced. But they will feed me.

Sitting at a station, not knowing which way you are going is annoying and stressful. Waiting is fine. But waiting for one person to make up their mind is infuriating. Luckily, the airport “cafeteria“ has Jimmy Dean sandwiches and Hot Pockets that I can eat for $3 a pop. And they have pop. And people in Alaska call it pop!

Things are looking up already. I hope I’m looking way up to the sky soon.

To be continued...

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Author’s Note #1: I can’t wait till personal drones are a thing.

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Continuing...

Right after I posted the first half of this, the call came in that they were not going to send another plane from Bethel. So the frustration of miscommunication set in and I don't know what to do. I kind of want to strangle the girl behind the counter that can't give me any information about the town she lives in. She points at the flyers on the wall for the places of lodging. None of them pick up. I am super hangry at this point. And on top of everything, the girl tells me that the pizza place and the grocery store are closing early because of the holiday. Mother fuuuuuuuuu-

Not knowing what to do, I text the other teacher that thankfully left with me. She is staying with the superintendent and his wife. They arrange for me to stay at the empty vocational school in town. An employee, Jeremy, comes to pick me up. We make it to the store ten minutes before closing. I stock up on Jack's Pizza (you have no idea how much I miss them), Jimmy Dean's breakfast sandwiches, some pop, and Snickers Ice Cream bars. Altogether, it came to $49.69. Talk about living o

So, I am stuck in Aniak, but I have quickly learned that by the generosity and kindness of people in the school system that I will have the hap-hap-happiest Thanksgiving since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. Wait, wrong holiday. Don't matter. This is going to be fun.