22 Dec
Christmas Around The World
“Hello! Would you like to check in?” The computer console asks so cheerfully.
“Yes, I would like to check in computer, thank you,” she says.
“Okay, just set your ID down on the scanner and we’ll get started.”
She sets passport on scanner.
“I’m sorry, your flight to Chicago has been cancelled. Would you like to check on other flights?”
She begins to feel hopeful.
“Haha, too bad. All flights to Chicago are cancelled. No Christmas in Poland for you.”
She feels sad at the thought of going home to her ant-filled apartment for Christmas instead of spending it with family.
The she and husband meet a nice man at the United ticket counter who tells them he will send them to Seattle (for free!) where they can spend a few days with her family while they fight to find a way to get to his family.
They land in Seattle, rent a car, and drive to central Washington. Her dad hugs them both excitedly.
They turn off all the lights and wait in the living room in the dark for mom to come home. Mom walks in the door. Mom drops something on the floor. Mom puts the keys down and look into the living room. Mom continues setting things down. Mom stops and turns back. Mom screams. Mom cries. It’s a Christmas miracle!
She and husband realize that they have a flight scheduled for the morning after the biggest storm to hit Seattle in years. They push their flight back one day. They try not to think about how they will travel for 20 hours, stay for 3 days, and fly 20 hours back.
She and he see both sets of her grandparents. They drink whole milk straight form the dairy with the cream still on top. They open their Christmas presents. They go to church and sing Christmas songs. They revel in the love and happiness around them.
Now they will get up at 3:30 am and drive over the snowy pass to catch a flight to Germany, and then on to Poland.
What a lucky girl and boy they are. First Christmas as newlyweds, spent with both families, though they live a world apart.
May your Christmas be just as magical.
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Yay! Good, it sounds like you’ll make it to Poland. I really really hope you do!! Have fun!
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1Great post, Jenna. It’s wonderful to see you seeing the best in all of this.
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2I just teared up. It’s really a christmas miracle
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3Wow - Safe travels!!!
I’m glad you mom got to see you this Christmas
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4Oh I hope you make it! What a treat for both families. Last night my brothers’ flight was delayed by three hours because they couldn’t de-ice the plane fast enough because it was snowing so hard. EEEK! Hopefully it goes better. Have fun darlin’!
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5That’s too bad about the snow storms, but amazing that you get/got to visit with both families! Have an awesome time in Poland!
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6Safe travels!
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7Sometimes something bad turns into good. I’m glad it did for you and that you really made the best of the situation. A Merry worldwide christmas to you and that husband.
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8Jenna, that is so wonderful that you will have the opportunity to see both families for such a special time of year. While it does make for quite a lot of long travel for a short time, I’m so glad to hear that it sounds like everything will work out in the end
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9Wow, that’s quite the story. Glad everything has worked out!
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10Yea! I hope the rest of the travels work out for you. I’m sure you made That Mother’s Christmas with your impromptu visit home.
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11As a Chicagoan, I can attest that the weather is completely nuts here… I’m not sure if that helps, but sometimes it’s good to know they didn’t just cancel your flight on a whim.
And besides, this is going to be a great story to tell your kids about your first married Christmas! Way to make the best of it!
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12I hope you make it to Poland OK! Merry Christmas to you and THAT husband!
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13My goodness, what a whirlwind holiday season for you guys. I’m so glad you’ll still be getting to Poland- that was a wonderful way to suprise your mom
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14Wow, what a wonderful surprise. Good luck on the second half of your journey!
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15Awwww Merry Christmas! This sounds so lovely for you both. Travel safe!
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16Travel safely! I hope it all works out in the end!
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17Oh jen I LOVE that story. I’m SO glad you got to see your mom. I’m sure she about died
Fly safe!!
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18wonderful story. safe travels to you and your hubs! enjoy your time in Poland!
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19oh, so happy for you! it seems that their are good things that come out of inconveniences.
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