Like a rock through water

Two things you should know before reading the following: 1) I am on my way to Denver, for a conference, and 2) I am re-reading Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse. In the novel, Siddhartha says to the courtesan Kamala:

"Look, Kamala: When you throw a rock into the water, it will speed on the fastest course to the bottom of the water. This is how it is when Siddhartha has a goal, a resolution. Siddhartha does nothing, he waits, he thinks, he fasts, but he passes through the things of the world like a rock through water, without doing anything, without stirring; he is drawn, he lets himself fall. His goal attracts him, because he doesn't let anything enter his soul which might oppose the goal. This is what Siddhartha has learned among the Samanas. This is what fools call magic and of which they think it would be effected by means of the daemons. Nothing is effected by daemons, there are no daemons. Everyone can perform magic, everyone can reach his goals, if he is able to think, if he is able to wait, if he is able to fast."

I barely made it out of Montreal at all this morning. I tried calling the airport to check on my flight's status before leaving my apartment (because I had a dream about it, and because of the snow) but the automated service wasn't able to provide me a clear answer and the taxi was waiting (but not blowing its horn, wink). The girl I am travelling with, Karine, and I found out at the airport that our flight was cancelled. We were given an 800 number to call and shooed away from Air Canada's ticketing counter ("no rebooking here! call the 800 number and book a flight for tomorrow if you can!"). I waited on hold for 1.5 hours... In the meantime Karine called our travel agent (this was at 6:30am) and left a message. When I finally got an Air Canada agent on the line I was told there were no flights before Monday (show opens Sunday); and "we can't do that" as a reply to my suggestion that we be sent on any flight, no matter how ridiculous, like Denver via LA, was the last thing I heard before the connection was dropped. That's right, after an hour and a half on hold.

Anyway, Karine called the travel agent again as soon as they opened at 8am and, right away, he gave us a flight via Las Vegas. Just like that. This is all going in my letter to Air Canada...

We sat in the plane for about 2.5 hours before it finally took off (de-icing, traffic, engine malfunction...) and passed through lots of turbulence. On the plus side, it was one of those with the movie/tv screens in the back of each seat. I watched Night at the Museum and -almost all of- The History Boys. Minus side (again, it's all going in the letter): we were in the back of the plane so they ran out of food by the time they got to us. Plus side: we had free $7 meals included in our tickets, don't know why. So, I had tuna (those packets with crackers), a chocolate bar, some roasted almonds and... Special K for lunch. :) I was unable, however, to get a muffin because "those are breakfast food" :S

Ok, so after a rollercoaster landing in Vegas (pretty bad, actually), we are on terra firma for a little while. Our connecting flight to Denver is late, so we should be at the hotel by 9:30pm local time, 11:30pm Eastern. That's.... 18 hours travel time... Phew!!!

I hear the snow was coming down like crazy today in Montreal so I'm feeling happy we even got out of there today. I had told Karine about the rock through water and that was our one goal: get to Denver today. Looks like we're going to make it. And that agent said not before Monday, HA!