Most who know me on a personal level know that I tend to let my patience run pretty thin and one of my biggest pet peeves is waiting on others. It continues to amaze me how, even when I plan ahead, others individuals and services tend to run late and remain unreliable. that’s why over the years I’ve come to develop a “plan B” for anything I’m planning or assuming. It’s saved my butt more times than I can count, from a time-saving and obligation standpoint.
Today sees me travelling to Toronto, Ontario for work purposes. Without getting into the weeds regarding the reasons, my posts over the next few days will be about the journey, not so much the destination. When I booked my flights a couple of weeks ago, I had the foresight to book a pre-arranged taxi can to pick me up and bring me to the airport. I planned for an early enough pick up that would allow the transit to the airport and get me there a couple of hours prior to my flight, to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. This is me. Of course, there were unforeseen circumstances…
With my departure to Toronto scheduled to take flight at 8 am, I booked my cab to pick me up at my home at 5:30. This would allow for the 15-minute transit across the city to the airport, incorporating any issues we may encounter (construction, collisions, etc). Unfortunately, in my haste to book the cab, I missed a very important notice on their website that states pickup and drop off at the airport was currently unavailable. Fuck. Me. I only discovered this hiccup when I brought their website at 5:30 this morning to figure out why they hadn’t shown up, yet.
Realistically, some of this is on me. If I wasn’t in such a rush to schedule everything, I no doubt would have seen the notice and moved on to a different company. No harm, no foul. THIS is why I always plan for a bit of a time cushion. I called a different cab company and had a car dispatched to me location, explaining I was headed to the airport and in a hurry. I was assured a car was coming immediately. Only after I schedule second cab did I receive a phone call from, you guessed it, the original cab company o booked. To clarify, they hadn’t arrived. They were calling to see if I still NEEDED a cab. After passive-aggressively explaining I had scheduled to be picked at that very minute, I declined their services.
They gave me a surprising amount of attitude over the phone despite the fact it was their doing. But I should have guessed something was up when I didn’t get a follow-up text or email when I booked them. Luckily, the cab that did show up was quick, efficient and knew his routes so I got to the airport just minutes after 6 am, which was what I had originally planned for. Whenever I fly, a minimum of two hours is always taken prior to boarding. My reason for this is quite simple; checking through security is always a longer process for me, requiring a physical examination by virtue of my insulin pump.
Luckily, the screening staff were on the ball and I found myself with plenty of extra time. So I treated myself to a Men’s Health magazine and can of energy drink, which cost me nearly three times the amount that I would have paid at my corner store. No wonder airports don’t want you bringing outside food and drinks! But a guy’s gotta have his caffeine, am I right? It’s always interesting to see the array of folks that wander through an airport. The differences in mood, haste and temperament make for some interesting “people watching.”
The flight was uneventful but I have to admit that I could have cycled my way to the hotel faster than the cab the brought me. I checked out where the venues will be tomorrow and did a bit of the tourist thing. I’m now chilling in my room, enjoying some air conditioning after a much-needed meal. Perhaps tonight will see me hit up the lounge or take a walk around city hall. Who knows? I’m here for three nights, so I should try to NOT be my usual self and actually enjoy the experience. ☯️
The Blogging Buddhist 