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Due to the rules of Ralph's life, I was forced to look ONLY while the error was displayed. I was stunned to return to the gate with the plane gone.

I asked the gate agent where the plane was, and he calmly told me it only left a few minutes late, 22:15. "But what about the the 22:51 departure I saw on the monitors?" His eyes popped out. "OH MY GOD!!!! YOU SAW THAT??? IT WAS ONLY UP FOR 2 MINUTES!! WE ARE SO SORRY! It was supposed to read 22:15! We'll get you on the very next flight"......Uhhh... Tomorrow morning. We can book you into a good hotel tonight on us. Had he not admitted to the error, I would have just thought it was me worshipping at the altar of St. Stupid again.

On his advice, I booked a longer flight through JFK instead of Miami, so I could follow my luggage. I called Terry's Cellphone to let him know I did indeed have all his boarding documents, but wasn't going to meet up with him at JFK and to continue on without me. As it was already 23:00, I declined the hotel offer, and slept on the floor of SFO to catch the early flight to JFK @ 8:05. I figured it's OK though, because I'll spend a day on Long Island with Sally, and just get to Aruba 1 day late.
Well sort of OK........

Why anyone would enter an empty airport at 6:00 and sit next to the only sleeping body so he could start calling all his friends to tell them he was at the airport is beyond me. I blearily went to find coffee.

Due to the change, I lost my typical window seat and was now CRAMPED in a center one with drunk, rowdy Russians on either side high fiving each other in front of my face every so often. American Airlines is DEFINITELY NOT JetBlue! As I touched down in NY, I went directly to Baggage claim, and gave them ALL my travel documents. " Your Luggage is already in Aruba, sir." OK, well that's cool! I'll just buy a few things here.

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IT'S ALL GOOD THOUGH! Karma dictates it was actually an opportunity.

This became a WONDERFUL visit and lovely dinner in Long Island!
NOW I'm renewed! Kind of broke up the travel too. I'm refreshed, relaxed and ready for the up coming flight day!

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ALL RIGHTY THEN!!!!! No worries, I'm back at JFK with plenty of time to spare, and only a day late!
Everything is OK, until I'm in the check in line, that is!

DISASTER STRIKES ME ONCE AGAIN!!
MY PASSPORT WAS MISSING!!!

HOW CAN I POSSIBLY MAKE THE SHIP ON TIME NOW???

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An intense search began at Baggage claim where I had last used it the previous day. Knowing I would miss my flight, to avoid charges I changed it to the next day hoping to get it resolved. Visits to all 3 lost and founds, and finally to the information booth produced nothing. But a lady unrelated to any airport personel, pulled a card from her purse that read Rush Passports in Mid town Manhattan. "If you can be here in 1 hour, I can probably get you one TODAY." He said.

I ran downstairs, hailed a cab and explained the situation. Can you get me there in time? NO PROBLEM! I'm Puerto Rican and know how precious that passport has become even for US Americans. BUT PLEASE PUT ON YOUR SEAT BELT! I've been driving cabs in New York for 35 years, and haven't had a wreck in over 20.

Mr. Toad's wild ride got me there but I must apologize to all the people we cut off, and ran off THE SIDEWALK!

We turned directly through this crowd!

I knew by this time as I was missing in action at the appointed time, he did the right thing and pushed on. So I called his voicemail again to let him know of the newest development.

What I didn't know is that all the voicemails I left were to the Cell phone he wasn't carrying, and I had no way to get the emails he had been sending me. I was also leaving messages at The Mill hotel in Aruba for him. Unknown to either of us was that the message light on the phone in his room was burned out. The stress of waiting to find out if they could even do it at all, was excruciating. PLUS another day's delay! But Tony came through for me! THEY'RE THE BEST!


Fortunately through all this Long Tall Sally was there in Long Island to comfort me and keep my head on straight.

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BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I MADE THE SHIP!

With some new and old friends................................................................. and a little luggage.

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Aruba
On the Ship!
San Blas Islands
Panama Canal
Panama City
Costa Rica Map. Click the lower right corner to magnify.
Contadora
Iguana Island
Coiba/ Granito de Oro
Isla des Secas
Golfitos
Quepos
Herradura/San Jose
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