Well, let's just say that for most of us, it's been quite a week. Even though I don't have friends or family who were lost, I feel deeply affected by these events we're all experiencing.

I happened to be in BWI for a trade show that was ending Tuesday. I had a flight going out at 5pm that evening. But this was before the events unfolded.

After the two planes crashed into the WTC, I headed down to the convention center to assess the situation. Being in the exhibit hall was the worst feeling ever. No one had a tv and we were all trying to find out what was going on. I happened to have two computers with an internet connection in my booth and several exhibitors and myself were huddled around them trying to log onto any news site for information. we were unable to connect to anything.

I then decided to give FT a chance hoping people were posting news and was able to get information from all of you here...

Needless to say, the mood in the hall was surreal. It felt wrong standing in an exhibit hall while America was being attacked. I pleaded with show management to close the show if not for safety reasons, then for respect of those who lost their lives. Many exhibitors were frantically trying to get a rental car, on a train or reschedule flights. Since I'm in California, I felt a bit more stuck.

Well, the mayor of Baltimore evacuated all public buildings (which was a good thing - I was not happy with the show for not shutting down sooner) On my walk back to the hotel in the Inner Harbor area I passed countless bomb squads, mounted police, and SWAT teams. They were off to secure county and federal buildings as well as secure the Baltimore WTC.

I arrived at my hotel only to find that they evacuated the building. All of the Inner Harbor area had been shut down. There was no place to go. My co-workers and I just sat there in disbelief.

After a while, the hotel opened back up and we shuffled upstairs to arrange a flight home.

I have to say, throughout this sitauation, each and every person I spoke with at AA has been been amazing. They are directly affected by the tragedy and yet they are back at work helping their stranded passengers get home. Each person I spoke with was doing a tremendous job in trying to put on a smile and help me. I don't know how they did it - I sure couldn't.

I was placed on flights daily if not more. Each flight was cancelled. On Thursday, I checked out of the hotel and moved in with some friends. It was very comforting being in a home with cats to stroke and a baby to play with. It was so helpful. I would have gone stir crazy in the hotel. In fact, my co-workers rented a car and began the 3,000 mile drive back.

At this point in time, I didn't care where I landed as long at it was on the West coast. I was looking at SFO, LAX, SAN...whatever. I got a flight to SAN.

Saturday comes, I call the airline - MY FLIGHT WAS GOING OUT!!!!

I get to BWI at 11:30 for a 1:30 flight. That 1:30 flight turned into the 4:10 flight to ORD.

After making friends with fellow stranded passengers, we board the plane and take off. I run through ORD to catch my fligh to SAN and it was...delayed. My 6:30 flight turned into the 9:00 flight.

Once again, spoke with so many others who were just trying to get home. One nice thing AA did was send a 767 but only had 2 classes of service scheduled. They put, from what I could tell, their elite travelers in the BC section. It was a nice treat after such a long day.

I landed in SAN around 11:30pm where my hubby ran full speed towards me in baggage claim. It was hard to tell who was happier to be there.

Needless to say, I'm not planning on changing my flight plans in the future...they win if that happens.

Thanks to all of you on this board who are out there listening, traveling and just being a part of this community. It's very reassuring.

Tiffany

Needless to say, I'm not planning on changing my flight plans in the future...they win if that happens.