Incidentally
February 4th 2010
I’m back from Los Angeles.
I know, I know, there was an earthquake somewhere else in California and though it injured no one and caused no damage, people worry. But I am fine.
Archive for February, 2010
Things my mother taught me
February 3rd 2010
I’m in Los Angeles for the next couple of days, as part of a business trip. I flew out of Montreal on Sunday afternoon, making a short hop to Detroit, then a longer flight to LAX, aiming to get in at about 10pm local time, and then head to bed so I could be fresh as a daisy for work the next morning.
Before I left, I packed my bags (obviously) and in my carry-on, with my books and laptop and knitting, I stuffed a pair of yoga pants and a shirt, a change of clothes, and some basic toiletries. Nothing fancy – deoderant, small toothpaste, travel toothbrush.
I always pack this, it being a precaution my mom always told me to take in case my luggage was ever lost in transit. And I always look at it, and how bulky my in-flight bag is and wonder if it’s really necessary.
On Sunday night, I found out.
Our flight was late getting into Detroit, which wouldn’t have been dire, except we didn’t have a gate to arrive at, so we spent 45 minutes waiting on the tarmac for our gate to open up – and for the air traffic controllers to be ready to guide us into the gate. Which meant instead of a mad dash to catch a flight that might have waited for us, we completely missed our connection to LA.
And there wasn’t another flight out until the morning. Not only that, but the next direct flight to LA was booked solid, and we’d have to fly through Salt Lake City in order to reach LA by 10:50am. Which meant a stupidly early flight the next morning.
All of which meant that we were spending a night in Detroit with no luggage.
It didn’t suck as much as it could have – the airline admitted it was their mistake and got us a hotel with a shuttle to the airport, plus vouchers so we could get meals. I got hold of our voice director in LA (thank goodness I had her cell number on me, though she probably cursed the day I gave it to her when her phone rang). She cancelled our morning session and got it rescheduled for Wednesday. (Incidentally, she was a superstar, and got flowers.) My co-worker got in touch with our hotel in LA so the wouldn’t cancel our booking when we didn’t show up the first night.
I was able to remain calm and poised on the phone with the re-ticketing agents. While we waited in line to get our tickets. While waiting to find out about hotels. This was not because I am a naturally calm person. It was also not because I ‘looked on the bright side of things’. Not because I have any special skills.
No, I got through it all very nicely because I knew that no matter what happened, I wouldn’t have to wander into a studio the next morning in smelly socks, day-old underwear, with unbrushed teeth. No matter what happened, I was going to be at least reasonably comfortable, and that made a world of difference.
And I have my mom to thank for that.
So, thanks Mom.