Compass

I swear when travel is involved your likelihood increases tenfold. Because you’ve happened before in my life, but not as frequently or at least not to the same degree of freak accident. 

Here’s a quick overview of what I attribute to your doings:

Locking my suitcase without knowing the code 2 minutes before leaving to start this trip.

Making dad use the special mechanical saw to severe the entire thing off. 

Having my very first flight delayed and my second connecting one delayed, deboarded, and almost missed. 

Not owning an umbrella for the first two weeks in London. 

Getting rained and snowed on for not having an umbrella. 

Losing every umbrella I’ve ever bought. 

Walking 2 miles to a futbol game because the mean bus lady kicked me off. 

Getting smashed in the metro ticketing door because I accidentally exited and refused to use another ticket. 

Forgetting theres nothing on Sundays. Nothing, not even that bus I was planning on taking my most looked forward to site in Normandy. 

Thinking I’m stuck in the elevator, only to find out that you manually open the doors on the opposite side that you entered from.
My entire journey to Rome: 

3:00 wake up call

3:15 sweat carrying luggage down skinny stairwell

3:30 scheduled uber arrives 

4:00 uber driver stops in an empty industrial area

4:05 uber driver looks up the airport and my terminal

4:15 at airport 

4:25 airport check in isn’t even open yet

4:40 have to pay for my oversized luggage at another desk that doesn’t open until 5:30

5:05 desk opened early, pay for luggage

5:20 through security 

5:30 grabbed coconut water

6:02 flight took off

7:10 landed in Milan, 2.5 hour layover 

Decided to buy food 10 minutes before boarding call and scarf it down.

Now I have to pee. 

9:40 last person to scan my ticket (not because I was late but because I was at the back of the line)

Also meant I was the last person to squeeze into the bus, that was taking us to the plane, with my backpack and carry on

10:00 takeoff

11:10 landed, accidentally exit airport without my luggage, go back through security to get to baggage claim

11:28 no baggage to be found

11:30 ask for help

11:32 sent on search, return for more help

11:40 scan tag, luggage is MIA, file claim 

12:00 prepaid school ride leaves in 30 minutes, must find CIEE

12:10 found exit three, some old friends, and my ride 
Oddly enough, anytime I’ve gotten stressed or anxious (because yes you do deal with a little bit of real life), none of your happenings were to blame for these emotions. Really. For some reason the actual series of “unfortunate events” were too unfortunate to be anything but ironic. And laughable. And out of my control. 

I’ve been told my luggage made it to Italy and will be with me again soon. 

But either way, I’ve got a new shirt, some new friends, and a new tolerance (appreciation even?) for your involvement in my life. 

I don’t wish you were out of my life, not even because of the lessons learned or the growth in patience. It’s just that you’re like a normal acquaintance who I’m somewhat comfortable with. And you kind of make me laugh. 
Catch ya on the flip side,

Riley Makenna