When I made the journey from the United States to South Africa for my brother’s wedding, my airplane route was not direct. I was scheduled to fly from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Chicago O’Hare, then overnight to London Heathrow, followed by another overnight flight to Johannesburg, then to Durban, South Africa.
The flight to Chicago was pleasant, and our plane arrived in the late afternoon. However, the following flight to London was delayed because of mechanical trouble. We waited at the gate hour after hour with mounting tension, until after midnight it was announced that the flight was canceled. The other passengers were rebooked on various flights, but the system would not allow my booking to go through because I had already checked in on my next flight, and the office for that airline was closed for the night. So I was given accommodation at a hotel, where I finally arrived around 2 a.m.
Since I needed to return to the airport by 6 a.m., I slept for only about three hours. When my alarm rang, I awoke with a raging headache. The lack of sleep and the uncertainties and tensions of the previous night seemed to be taking their toll.
