Phoebe Run to Gate 21

Ankur and I both have TSA Pre-Check. We figured with us traveling so much (pre-COVID), it was the smart thing to do to save us some time at the airport.

When we make flight reservations, we always add our Known Traveler Number (KTN) to ensure that we have “TSA Pre-Check” listed in bold on our boarding pass.

We did that for our flight to NorCal last week.

But, later, when our plans changed, I called to change the flight so I could head down to SoCal for a week after our trip. And, since it was over the phone, I completely forgot to provide them with my KTN.

Which meant that my boarding pass from Chicago to NorCal no longer had the TSA Pre-Check label attached to it.

And we didn’t realize it until we got our boarding passes printed an hour before our flight.

No matter how much I begged, they wouldn’t let me through the TSA Pre-Check line.

I told Ankur to go through that line with Ishu so that they’d have more time at the gate to roam around and get some wiggles out before we boarded.

And I, begrudgingly, turned around to go through the general line, which was surprisingly long for the 18th of December.

The security lane that I had chosen appeared to be running fine. But then one man’s bar of soap set off the alarm. And then they had to take the damn bar of soap to another machine in a different part of the airport to run it.

Because the alarm had gone off, they weren’t allowed to pull any more bags for a bag check. And, whaddya know it? My bag was right after his. And it needed to be checked.

But, OF COURSE, the ONE TSA employee who did the checks had to pause EVERYTHING. For like 20 minutes.

I was pacing back and forth, tears in my eyes. Asking anyone who would listen if they could just check my bag because my baby had boarded the flight and they were about to take off without me.

To make matters worse, our gate was at the other end of the terminal and I knew I had a lengthy walk (sprint) ahead of me.

But nobody seemed to be in a hurry.

With 15 minutes ’til take-off, I had tears in my eyes and my hands were shaking as I texted Ankur.

“What should we do? Should we get off the plane?” he asked.

“No, just try to ask someone to wait,” I responded.

FINALLY, FREAKING FINALLY, the TSA employee came back with the bar of soap. He ever-so-gently plopped it back into this man’s toiletries bag, zipping it up OH-SO-SLOWLY.

He was taking his sweet-ass time and then same wonderful woman came up behind us and started pulling bags (mine first!). She pulled out a pack of WaterWipes, swiped something up and down the side of it, and then stuffed it back into the bag. Throwing everything at me and sending me on my merry way.

I grabbed the handles of the bag with one hand, pulled up my pants with the other hand, and began my sprint to Terminal 21.

I MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART WHEN I TELL YOU I HAVE NEVER RUN AS FAST AS I DID IN THAT MOMENT.

You know how they talk about moms and their super car-lifting strength when their babies are in danger?

I feel like it was that kind of adrenaline that kicked in.

Not that my baby was in danger. But just knowing that there was a possibility that they might shut the doors and not allow Ankur and Ishu to deplane.

I huffed. And I puffed. And I sprinted so hard that my body was in complete shock.

At Terminal 19, I could hear them call my name over the speaker. At the same time, Ankur called my phone and said, “THEY’RE CLOSING THE DOORS IN 3 MINUTES.”

I wheezed out my response.

“Terminal 19…so…close…” I said.

I finally reached Terminal 21 and the doors were SHUT.

Another man was standing at the door who seemed equally out of breath. Okay, maybe not “equally” out of breath, but y’know…might have had a bead of sweat running down his face.

I looked around for someone to let me in. And THEY DID IT THEY DID IT THEY DID IT.

I made it.

I had to do the sweaty walk of shame all the way to the back of the plane where Ankur and Ishu were sitting. And Ishu didn’t give two shits that I needed a moment to breathe because he jumped on my lap and demanded my attention ASAP.

I was more than happy to give it to him.

The stewardess noticed that I was struggling and handed me a cold can of water to put on my neck to cool me down.

And we settled in for our flight to California.

All three of us.

There are a few things I learned through this experience.

I am out of shape and need to get my butt on a treadmill more often.
I will never again forget to add my KTN when I book a flight.
Moms have superhuman strength when they absolutely need it.
A cold can of soda fits perfectly at the back of your neck and cools you down just as well as a cold compress. And it might be even better because then you can DRINK it after.
My run through Midway Airport is probably going viral on YouTube right now. It was very much a Phoebe run. Only without the smile.