I don’t think I told you guys about my fall at the airport

I don’t go to the airport a lot, which is ironic since my husband flies airplanes for living. I am trying to travel more, so I’m hoping to be an airport expert before too long. Anyway, I’m telling you this because it will give you some context as to why what happened, happened.

My husband and I were at the airport, having just landed from a trip to see family. We were downstairs waiting on our luggage so that, once we retrieved it, we could walk outside and catch the bus to the employee parking lot where we left the car. I have a relatively big suitcase, if you know me, you know I’m not exaggerating when I say big, and I was following my guy at a pretty good clip so that we could catch the bus. Apparently, the employee buses are few and far between and if you miss one, you may as well sit down and relax because it’ll be a while before you see the next one. So that explains why he was in a near run trying to catch it and I was doing my best to keep up. I had my backpack on and my purse over my shoulder, I had both hands on the handle of my suitcase so I could roll it in front of me; it has four wheels so it’s usually pretty easy to navigate.

We made it out the sliding glass doors, my husband blazing a trail for me through the many people waiting for their ride, while also pulling his luggage behind him. I had just rounded the corner right outside the door, heading to the bus, when my front two luggage wheels hit a crack in the sidewalk. Because I was pushing it in front of me, my center of gravity was off. So, once the wheels hit the crack there was no stopping the suitcase from toppling over and pulling me down right along with it. Don’t ask me why I didn’t just let go of the handle, I honestly have no idea. The next thing I knew, I was flying through the air and then hit the ground. I hit my knee and elbow and palm on one side of my body and the other side of my body landed jacked up on the suitcase.

There were multiple people behind me who had to stop dead in their tracks, all of them with shocked expressions on their faces. But all I could hear was one lady who busted out laughing. I’m lying on the sidewalk and all I could think was, “rude.”

I rolled off the suitcase and began to hoist my fifty-something-year-old body onto its feet; this all happened within a few seconds. The whole time I was getting up, I kept saying “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” People from all over were walking up and asking if I was OK, I just kept apologizing. I’m not sure why I was apologizing? I guess because I stopped the traffic flow momentarily; and I’m sure I gave people a scare. But honestly, I’m not sure why I was saying I’m sorry, I probably should’ve just raised my hands, as though I just completed an Olympic floor routine, and took a bow. That would’ve been more appropriate than apologizing, I think.

Thankfully, because it would’ve been ten times worse if we had missed it, we made the bus. I sat there with my knee stinging and my palm hurting, replaying the whole thing in my mind. I think what hurt the most was my pride.

I learned a couple of things, never push a four wheeled suitcase out in front of you, not unless there’s not a single crack in the floor. And secondly, take your time, it’s better to wait for the next bus than to risk injury.

And, if you happen to know anyone who’s telling a story about an old lady who fell over her suitcase at the airport, please ask them if they were laughing. If they were, tell them they’re rude. ha!

We made it to the parking lot to get our car, and I nearly left my backpack on the bus as I was exiting. I can say with complete honesty, I’ve never been so glad to get into the car and drive home.

Moral of the story…be safe out there.