Southwest Airlines meltdown left me stranded — and grateful

I felt lucky when our flight landed in Dallas.

It was Dec. 21, and meteorologists were forecasting a winter storm that we'd later learn would leave more than 50 people dead.

My parents picked my wife and me up after our Southwest flight from Burbank landed perfectly on time at Dallas Love Field. Our four bags — checked free! — full of Christmas gifts arrived unscathed. The hardest part of the day was figuring out how to get out of the airport parking garage.

The next day when the wind chill was 14 below zero, we were cozy and