Mass Hysteria

    After being stuck in transit for three days i can ,for the first time, claim that i am ecstatic to be back in Old Town Maine. Two cold sleepovers in the airport, 7 hours of carting my luggage around and a hundred more spent re-booking flights has lead me to feel this way about my small home town. Being able to breathe and feel at ease with a large amount of space around me, versus being cramped and compacted in a small airport was a nice change. As well as seeing a familiar face and being able to make small talk with people who speak the same language. However if i were to take anything from the stressful experience that caused hundreds of people to be stranded, not to mention the fact that some missed christmas, it would be the fact that i was able to keep calm about the situation. I think one person described me as being very zen. I was able to lead others instead of panic with them, although to be honest i was less calm then they thought. But after a while you just have to grow numb and accept the situation your in, expect the worse possible outcome and continue to jump through hoops to not let that outcome become reality. Being able to communicate with people weather it be taking sympathy for the U.S Air employee or being able to relate to other students, to have some kind of moment with people is something i will never forget. It took a whole airport to shutdown for people to stop rushing, to wake up from their routine, to detach themselves from their plans, and to communicate in a non-artificial way to wake up and reach out to the people around them.  Although some  were never able to wake up and take a hold on the situation, others were able to take the time and build acquaintanceship with others around them, they were able to make a valuable moment out of a catastrophe.