Today’s commute started out so well!!

I went in early, and rode my bike to the main station to take advantage of the record-breaking warmth (it’s sunny and warm – something must be wrong!) It was such a great way to start the day compared to the usual smelly and dark ride to the main station on the underground.

On my way home, the train arrived early (gasp!) I had left work with a plan to get to the gym, have a delicious dinner, and finish up some thoughts on a project for tomorrow morning. And the train was early!

The train arrived at the next stop, which is usually where a ton of people get on and I’m forced to cram in and hold my breath in the summer.

I had on my earphones and was working on my laptop. I noticed not a lot of people were getting on. I got so excited to have a seat to myself!

An early train and a seat to myself! Unheard of.

I don’t know how much time passed, but I looked up and there was a conductor standing over me, looking down.

He said, “the train to Heidelberg leaves in an hour” (Editor’s note: Heidelberg is in the opposite direction of Frankfurt. Actually, thinking back on this, he must have said that in German.)

I gave him a confused look and said, “um, what about Frankfurt?”

He said, “I announced it ten times. No trains to Frankfurt.”

Then I looked around. No one was on the train anymore.

So I said, “How do I get to Frankfurt?”

He told me there were buses running. I think he geniunely felt bad for me because he followed me off the train and tried to explain there was some sort of accident on the way to Frankfurt and no trains were running in this area.

I went out, looked for the bus, which of course I couldn’t find, and eventually went to the information counter. The woman was less than sympathetic (why should she be?). She pointed in the opposite direction to the buses. She also told me, “I can’t not help you” – or some sort of double negative that made absolutely no sense and also made me chuckle.

I finally found the bus, which took me to another train station south of the accident, where I had to wait for a city train.

This train went directly to my neighborhood, but remember, my bike was at the main station, so I had to take a streetcar to get to my bike. And then bike back home.

2 hours and 30 minutes. (it’s 30 min by car)

Regional train, bus, city train, streetcar, bike.

No gym. No perfecting my project.

Some days, plans don’t always work out. Time for a book, a cup of tea, and contentment in having a day off on Thursday.