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Dear Reader,
I'd rather be early than late. Seems like a logical way of thinking to me, but lately I have to keep defending my time schedule to people.
"You don't need to leave that early. What time is your flight?"
That's always his opening line and I know the rest of his appeal by heart. Because every time I call the car service driver to schedule an early morning pick-up to take me to the Tampa airport, he says the same thing. "Now I'll pick you up any time you want, Suzanne, but you don't have to be at the airport two hours before your flight. You'll be there way too early."
Nevertheless, I hold fast to the two-hour window, because the one time I did take his advice, it was a close call. My ticket was flagged for an extra security check that day and when the guard finally finished searching me and my bag, I heard the panic call.
"Beecher, Suzanne Beecher. Your flight at Gate 5A is leaving. Last call for Suzanne Beecher."
"I'm here! I'm coming," I was yelling, while running as fast as I could through the airport. "Don't leave without me. I have an appointment in Manhattan at 10 a.m. and I can't miss this flight.
I'm gonna kill that limo driver."
So you'd think with that scene still vivid in my mind--I'm out of breath just writing about it--that I'd just totally disregard his familiar speech. But that limo driver, he's good. He's so convincing (he should run for public office) that there's always that briefest moment in our routine conversation when I'm tempted to fold.
And it's not just my limo driver. Somehow every concierge, doorman, and hotel clerk I interact with must have attended the same seminar about "Getting Your Customer to the Airport On Time"--because they all use the same line, "Oh, you don't need to allow that much time. You'll be there way too early."
Well, "way too early" sounds good to me.
I don't know if the early bird really does get the worm--not that worms sound appetizing to me--but in my case, this early bird doesn't have to worry she might be late. And that's always worth waiting for.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
suzanne, i had no idea what a blog was, or that they existed. anyway, while checking it out i was affirmed in that if i have the time, go early! what does it hurt-- and as you've described, it can save a bit of panic. when picking people up at the airport i'm also told "you have plenty of time; you don't need to be there so early." it is worth my time to be there a bit early and read and relax, rather than running into nasty traffic, an accident perhaps and feeling rushed. it's not like we try to force others to do it our way, right?! so each of us should do what makes us comfortable. that's my opinion...
Posted by: jan | October 19, 2004 at 07:23 PM