Louisiana-Bound (2008)

Part 3 of 40: The Windy City Terminal

As we arrived in Chicago, we realized it was necessary to change buses. That meant getting our luggage from the bus we were on and keeping it with us until we boarded the bus to Memphis, Tennessee. Now a four-bagger in baseball is good. That's a home-run. A four-bagger on a bus trip is not so good. That's Harvey carrying two backpacks off the bus and getting two large luggage bags from the underneath storage compartments of the bus. That's what we were facing in Chicago.

It was tough getting inside the terminal doors with all that bulky, heavy stuff. And it was equally difficult for Melanie trying to follow me with her cane. The secret is to avoid bumping into concrete or metal posts and not walk into clouds of cigarette smoke trying to get inside the terminal. I could've almost choked on that blue smoke. But we managed.

I checked with the ticket agent. I think I had almost an hour before departure. She told me our loading gate number. So we were all set except that it was a long line. We quickly got into that line. Then I went back to see management while Melanie held her spot in the line. Maybe they would put us on early because of Melanie being deafblind. The lady said that arrangements had to be made in advance. She told me why. It was because some passengers are willing to pay more for special services.

Then as I stood there she looked over to the porter and asked him if he was willing to help us out. He said, "I'll be back after I take care of this lady."

I didn't feel comfortable with that. But he would be walking right past where Melanie was in line. So I followed him. And when we got to Melanie, I told him we would be waiting right here. He acknowledged what I said and he was as good as his word. He came back and escorted us onto the waiting bus.

A sad incident occurred at this time. An elderly lady while on the previous bus asked if we were going to Memphis. Somehow we had won her confidence. But I did not know her plan until much later. I assured her that we were getting the bus to Memphis. And I never heard from her again until we got in line. She was sitting on a bench in the terminal and when she saw us in line, she joined us. When the porter came to give us special service I asked if she could come with us. He said, "No, I can't do that!"

It seems that this lady was using us as a marker to get to where she had to go. I think she got on the bus before it departed. Unfortunately, I am not sure of that.

We jumped over a major hurdle in Chicago. Our luggage was now in the storage compartments of the bus departing for Memphis. For the most part, we could relax until we arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, the following morning. I don't remember if we had anything to eat in Chicago. No, Melanie says we didn't. I was just happy to make it out of there.

So long, Windy City!

Written by Harvey A. Bond
April 30, 2008

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