After a long planned, incredible sightseeing, gun shooting, long, holiday weekend with Montana dwelling friends, my youngest and I arrived at the airport earlier today for our 1:05pm direct flight home. We’ve had 4 days of full-on-experiences. I’m thankful we had the opportunity to come. It’s been a life-memory kind of time.
If all had been on time today (spoiler alert, it has not yet happened) we would have arrived home about 30 minutes ago at 7pm Central Time. Instead, we’re still in Montana enjoying the extended hospitality of the B Terminal at the Billings airport.
The issue?
The 1:05pm flight became the 2pm, then the 3pm and so on. Six delays later we’re supposedly set for a 9:45pm departure on another plane, flight number, tail number, the whole bit.
In my work life, flight delays are a not abnormal annoyance. It’s all part of the modern gig. Ironically, my youngest’s last flight experience was a work trip with me and momma last year that also had a wicked delay. It was the kind of delay where you arrive at the airport at 3am, decide to trudge on through the wee hours and pull into your driveway as the sunrises. He wasn’t freaked out by that one; he’s not losing it over this one. But other American Airlines patrons are quite obviously losing it.
My message to him at about 5:45pm: Why worry about this? “Who can add a minute to their life?” is a Scriptural directive that definitely applies to all of life, including tonight.
There is no worry, but there could a potential life reality slap coming. That’s because tomorrow could be a bigger lesson in adulthood disappointments if we don’t get outta here tonight.
Due to all the shutdown craziness of recent times, the Department of Public Safety (Drivers License) in Texas is on a limited, appointment-only schedule. You can probably guess what we have tomorrow afternoon for my youngest. The appointment we made, the earliest one we could get when booking it 3 months ago, for his permit is tomorrow at 2pm. In trying to secure an earlier slot weeks ago, I literally wrote the Governor, my state Representative and Senator. Be encouraged: writing gets results. My state Rep came through by actually having the manager of our area DPS offices call me.
Incredible, right?!
Well, not really.
DPS dude, Jerry, was gracious and as apologetic as he could be when he called to tell me there’s nothing he could do. He went on to explain he’s operating at 25% employee and space capacity by order of the Governor. Layer on to those limitations the fact that other residents of Texas, as far away as Dallas and Houston, have been scheduling ALL the appointments in our town and willingly driving 2-5 hours to get their permits and licenses. DPS Jerry (as he’s now affectionately titled in my phone) counseled me to keep our September 8th appointment.
So, I did.
Or, at least I will, Lord-willing-and-the-creek-don’t-rise and AA gets a bird here to get us outta here!
Let’s see what 9:45pm tonight brings toward 2pm tomorrow, eh?
_______
Update:
It’s now 9:53pm MT and we are securely sitting in 13a and 13c. Finally headed homeward!!
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