Monday 4 November 2013

Phone calls in the night

We've all had them. We all hate them. There is nothing worse than being woken by a phone call. It is never good news. The bell tolls death, disaster or misfortune.

My husband is off in New York, running the marathon - literally. I went to bed at 2am having watched him cross the start line on an app. At 5.50 the phone rang. In a groggy haze of confusion, a man explained that they couldn't find my husband. His belongings were in the room still, but they hadn't been able to find him for two days. I was panicked and felt a wave of nausea descend. My world contracted to a confused tunnel. "What do you mean he's missing? What's happened?"

Then as the man talked more, I realised it was the hotel (though I'm sure they must have said that at the start of the call, and I'd not been awake enough to register). They thought he was due to check out yesterday. They'd extended his booking as a courtesy but no longer knew what to do.

Ah, sweet relief. It was nothing - 'He's running, right now, as we speak.' We extended the booking another day and I gratefully hung up, though adrenalin coursed through my veins, so there was no going back to sleep.

I found the booking confirmation, which had the correct dates, so I have no idea what the problem was. Just one of those things.

My thoughts, however, have been with those that received that call after Boston. Or after Sept 11. Or after any ill fated trip. I can not fathom the cruelness of the distance and remoteness, the echo in the phone line, the confusing time difference, all adding to an already terrible call, heralding your world collapsing.

I am thankful it was nothing. I am counting the days until he returns even more keenly than before.
I am wishing that we were all spared those calls in the night.

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

15 comments:

  1. Those call ins the night are definitely dreaded, so glad that it wasn't bad news for you. I bet you will be glad to have him home though.

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  2. Congrats to Mr on finishing the marathon - well done !!!
    I hate those phone calls too. The worst is that my Dad works until mid-night and, on more than one occasion, has pocket called me - it's so hard to go back to sleep afterwards !!!!
    So glad it all worked out in the end. Sometimes you have to wonder about how hotels operate their booking systems.
    Have the best day !
    Me

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    1. That's the worst (pocket calls) - you'd be saying 'hello, hello?" and getting now answer - creepy until you worked it out...

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  3. I agree, phone calls during the night are scary. Whilst both of our boys were in NICU anytime the home phone rang through the night it would send me into an instant panic. I'm glad everything was ok & congratulations to your husband!

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  4. I hate phone calls at the best of the times - let alone the late night ones which you know are only bad news! Glad to hear yours turned out okay.

    Visiting from #teamIBOT xxx

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  5. i was so worried for you for a sec - so glad it turned out ok - congrats to hubby on the marathon! i totally hear you on what those people must go through in those moments they receive the phone call from far away

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  6. Oh my goodness! How scary for you and what a VERY weird phone call! Hope hubby has called in to say he is ok - either way xx

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    1. Yes, I'd spoken to him before the race and after - it was more just confusion coming out of the deep sleep!

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  7. In further weirdness the hotel emailed me a day later to ask me the guests name on the booking confirmation - and then informed me he'd checked out !?!

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  8. Oh my gosh, that would have got my heart racing too! Glad it was all just a misunderstanding. I certainly can't imagine receiving one of those calls after the Boston marathon. :( On a happy note, congrats to him on completing the marathon! What an achievement!

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  9. My heart was in my mouth reading this! I woke up to images of my friend celebrating after completing the NY marathon today also. Thank goodness for happy endings xx

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    1. Was your friend in the FB support group? She would have met him at the picnic on the Saturday? Small world, if so! Ha!

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  10. Holy Crap!
    I know it turned out OK, but the heart attack in between...all I can say is holy crap!

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