Years ago, I heard an anecdote about a man who walked up to an airline check-in desk and asked the clerk to send one bag to Ft. Myers, one to Baltimore Washington International, and one to Rochester.

The clerk was scandalized. “Sir, we can’t do that!”

“Why not? You did it last time.”

When I first heard that tale, I was amused. I never dreamed that bag would be me one day.

Recently, my husband and I flew from Denver to Rochester by way of Ft. Myers, FL , then BWI. Eighteen hours of transit, for what should have/could have been a 4-hour direct flight. Somehow, I lowered my guard at the promise of “only one transfer,” not realizing they super-glue you to the seat in Denver to distract you from the fact that your final destination isn’t even exotic.

There’s no doubt that travel has gotten more challenging. You are required to remove so many things these days that sometimes, it surprises me that you’re still allowed to keep your underwear on. 

On one particular airline, your bag flies free, but you have no reserved seat. It was so crowded, I was thankful there is no longer a middle ashtray, because I was pretty sure someone would have been seated in it.

After my recent travels, I have a word of advice: no matter how short your advertised flight is, pack food. And drink. And lots of it. Seriously. You’d have to down every single miniscule pretzel packet on the plane just to awaken your diet app.

In December, my husband and I are supposed to visit our daughter in Sweden for Christmas. Travel is still four months away. Yet two legs of our four flights have already been cancelled. I’d just like to understand how they know now that in December 1) the weather will be too lousy to fly, 2) there won’t be enough pilots or flight attendants to manage the flight, or 3) there won’t be enough passengers to fill those ashtray seats?

When I was younger, I fantasized about having the wherewithal to pack a bag, go to the airport, and decide my destination based on what location struck my fancy. Now, I’d just be happy with a direct flight.

Originally published in BeyondtheNest.com, Rochester’s FREE weekly guide to Arts, Culture & Recreation.