(no subject)
Sometimes, when you’re feeling over-confident, life slams you back down to earth. Take me for example. I am one of America’s most successful self-made businesswomen. I was on my way home from Boston. I was there on a business trip. My meetings lasted a little longer than I had hoped but I didn’t mind. I had just closed the biggest deal of my career! A few of the clients asked to take me out to lunch as sort of a celebration. I agreed and we went to a small coffee shop. It was nice, not exactly the people I would have chosen to have coffee with but it was fine all the same. But I was nervous about missing my flight home. It was my nephew’s 10th birthday the next day and I was going to be home in time for the party. I called my driver to meet me back at the hotel. Glancing at my watch I smiled in seeing that I had just enough time to walk back. I knew the way well enough, I only got lost and had to ask directions once. My walk was lovely though, I love Boston in the fall. The leaves, the breeze, the birds singing, the chill in the air; it was beautiful. I felt as though this were my day. Fate had determined this day to be mine. I’d just made the biggest move in me career, the day was gorgeous and I was going to be home before dinner time. I was on top of the world. I got up to my room and felt a kind of bitter sweet feeling. My shoes were in the corner (like always) my towel was on the chair (like always) and the radio was on low (just so the room wasn’t silent). I hummed the song playing as I packed up the little I had brought with me. The phone rings (which is odd because no one calls me…ever). But I was just the front desk letting me know that the car was here. I love my driver. His name is Consuelo this time. He liked talking to me, which was nice because I rarely have a conversation not including work. We chat idly as he drives. He knew the city well and had no problem getting to the airport. Except that the freeways were jammed because of an accident earlier that morning. Every rout was packed. I was really worried about making my flight on time. I finally get to the airport and learn that United Airlines Flight 175 had departed 15 minuets ago. 15 minuets! If I’d had not gone to lunch I’d have been on my way home. If I had packed up the night before I’d have been on time. If I hadn’t walked so slowly back to the hotel…. So many “ifs” ran through my head. Then I thought of my nephew, he’d be devastated! He was so looking forward to my being there. I asked for a transfer ticket and stormed over to the waiting area. I threw my stuff down and fumed in my chair. Oh, I was so upset! I tried to think of anyway to get home. After two hours, two Venti Carmel Lattes and the new issue of Time magazine I felt better. Distracted by a commotion in the next terminal I looked up from a fascinating article on Stem-cell research. Something was happening on the news, but I was too self-absorbed to care what was happening in the rest of the world. An announcement came over the loud speaker “Attention, all flights are canceled until further notice. Please stay calm. All flights are canceled.” WHAT?! Now I was upset! What now? How was I supposed to get home? My fabulous day had violently turned bad. My head fell into my hands as my eyes started to well with tears. I sat there for a moment until my cell phone started buzzing in my coat pocket. It took me a moment to realize that someone wanted to talk to me. I fumble with the phone and clear my eyesight. It was my sister…in San Carlos.
Breanne: “Hi Christine, I don’t think I’ll be able…”
Christine: (interrupts) “Are you ok? Where are you? What’s happening? Are you safe?” Breanne: (stopping her) “Wait wait wait, what? Of course I’m ok. I missed my flight and they’ve canceled all the others. I don’t know why.” (Silence on the other end) “um, Chris?”
Christine: (breaking down)“thank God you’re ok”
Breanne: “Chris. What’s going on?”
Christine: “You don’t know? Your flight, flight 175, was hijacked. It just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.”
Breanne: (incredulous) “What? No, no I’m fine. I wasn’t on the plane. It left without me”
Christine: “I’m so glad. I was so scared Bre. Brian’s freaking out too. I’ll tell him you’re fine. Guess we’re not having a party tomorrow”
Breanne: “I’m fine, I promise. I’m gonna go ok. I’m gonna go find a TV with the news on. I’ll call you later. I love you Chris”
Christine: “I love you too Breanne, see you soon”
(Christine walks off stage)
Wow, what a shock. I was almost on that plane. If I hadn’t stopped for coffee I would have been 15 minuets earlier and wouldn’t be here. If I’d have been more organized and ready to go right after the meeting I would never be there for Brian’s birthdays…ever. As I stood there in the terminal watching the horrible events happing around me, I cried. I cried for me, for Brian, for Christine, for the person who I was supposed to sit next to, for the pilot, for the children, for the janitors in the building, for the passers-by, for the 15 minutes that saved my life.