Recently I went through one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. Recently as in last weekend. As I mentioned in my last blog, I took a trip to University of Maryland 4 hours away to visit some friends for the weekend. I was already so nervous to be traveling without my parents and knew that something would go wrong one way or another. I don't have the best luck when it comes to these types of things.

I woke up Sunday morning in my friends dorm thinking that if I left at 12:30 pm traveling 25 minutes to D.C. that it would leave me plenty of time to catch my bus for a 2:00 departure. My friend would drive me to Union Station and everything would be fine and dandy. This wasn't the case though. 

Luckily we were making great time, but my luck soon turned. I was following my Google Maps on my phone and it said that we would be there 30 minutes before 2:00. My friend driving failed to tell me that she was following her own GPS which was taking us a completely different way. Hers said that we would arrive at Union Station at 2:10. This was unacceptable..I could NOT be late for my bus back home. I told her to follow the directions off of my phone from now on even though we were already about 20 minutes out of our way. My friend is a pretty reckless and fast driver and normally her driving would have freaked me out but not this time. This time I was the one telling her to pass that car or to speed up even though we were already going about 20 over the speed limit. I had my mind set that I was not going to miss my bus home. 

Washington D.C. traffic was insanely busy that day. OF COURSE..TODAY, the day I'm late for my bus. The car was getting hotter and I began to freak out. I started thinking off all the consequences of missing my bus. 1. My parents would be pissed that I just spent all that money on the bus ride and 2. I would be missing my classes monday! I called my friend who traveled with me but got her own ride to the bus station. She was already on the bus and wondering where I was. I told her to stall the bus driver and tell him that I would be there a few minutes after 2:00. It was no use, he couldn't hold up the passengers on the bus. I was doomed. 

I spotted Union Station from about a half mile away. We were slowly inching our way through the line to reach the entrance of the station. I just said "screw this" jumped out of the car and sprinted across the busy road, then the lawn, then around a huge statue that seemed to be really inconvenient at that moment. I looked like a fool running awkwardly with a big bag on my back. I'd never felt so out of shape and didn't realize this until I started almost hyperventilating while running through the station. I couldn't find the busses anywhere. It was exactly 2:00 there was no time to loose. Then I got the call.

my friend: "Meghan..the bus driver just started the bus.where are you??"

me: "Im coming, just please stall!"

my friend: I tried my best! He's pulling out of the station now. you need to go back to your friends car who drove you here."

I didn't know where my friend who drove me was at this point. Eventually I called her  and jumped back in the car. I didn't know where to go next. Should I get a hotel room and then catch a bus back to Roanoke tomorrow? I was out of ideas. Finally I made the call to my parents. They were disappointed and very mad at me. I began to cry to my mom over the phone which calmed them down and suddenly made them more supportive. They told me to come home which was an hour away from Union Station. I was exhausted and just wanted to be on that bus sleeping. 

When I got home my mom hugged me. I was so happy to see my family because I hadn't seen them since they dropped me off at college. They told me I was to drive back to Roanoke that night so I wouldn't miss classes the next day. I thought they were crazy at first because I had only driven the highway about 3 times before this. I was not ready to drive 5 and a half hours back to Roanoke but knew it was my only choice. 

I hit the road around 5:00 pm and drove for 4 hours. I was so tired while driving that I almost fell asleep at the wheel a few times. I knew I had to stop or i would probably end up getting in an accident. I was close to James Madison University and knew my close friend went there. I called her up and explained my situation to her. She felt so bad for me that she let me stay at her place over night. I slept on a hard couch that was right outside of her dorm room. I woke up early to hit the road and thankfully made it back to Roanoke before my 12:00 class. This whole adventure was a learning experience for me and was somewhat glad I went through it.