Always have a backup plan

No matter what you do or where you are you always need a back up plan or two or three.  Today was a good example of if it could go wrong it did.  It was also a great day because everything worked out perfectly fine, I completed my project, and I got home earlier than if everything went as planned.

Yesterday afternoon I was told I needed to go to a meeting an hour or so outside of San Diego.  A travel freeze exemption was granted so I could attend this meeting.  It was for a five million dollar project that had hit a snag.  If I couldn't come up with a solution it would turn into a million dollar payoff and the project would be postponed.  I was confident that I could make everyone happy. 

I called the travel agent who booked a flight from Fresno to LA to San Diego.  I was going to rent a car for my time down there.  I had to leave the house around 4 in the morning.  I called San Diego sister and planned on meeting her for a late breakfast before my meeting. 

Grandson wasn't happy that I was leaving until I told him that I'd wake him up and he could get up over an hour earlier than normal.  I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare which was good because the line to get through security was a lot longer than normal.  With about 10 people in front of me they called for a bunch of passengers for my plane, me included.  Not a problem.  I got through security and headed to my gate as they were calling my name again. 

Problem...I went to the wrong gate and by the time I realized it I missed my plane.  I've never missed a plane due to my stupidity!  I called the travel agent at 6 in the morning.  I missed my plane, can you get me on another?  I have to be at my meeting at 1:30.  The travel agent said everything was booked according to her screen.  I asked the person at the counter at the airport.  She could put me on standby.  That won't work.  I have to get there by 1:30.  If I don't get there the project gets postponed and we have to pay a penalty.  It's a million dollar issue. I can drive, it's a seven hour drive and I have 7 1/2 hours, so I hopped into my fully fueled truck and headed down the road.  The truck was full of food, clothing, fuel, and a weapon or two.  I was ready to go.

As I drove out of the airport I called the travel agent.  It was now 6:30 in the morning.  I'm sure they weren't thrilled with me!  Can you get me on a flight from Visalia, Bakersfield, or Burbank since I'm going to pass those airports on the way down?  I got a call back.  Yes Bakersfield will get you to San Diego.  Your car will be available once you get down there.  So I drove to the Bakersfield airport, checked in through security once again and I was on my way.  The travel agent called again to say I couldn't get a flight back today.  How about if I drive the rental car back from San Diego to Bakersfield, pick up my truck in Bakersfield and drive home?  Sure, why not?

I got to San Diego, picked up the car, drove to the meeting, got everyone to agree, drove back to Bakersfield, swapped out the vehicle, then drove home.  I got home over 30 minutes earlier than if I had flown home.

Why am I telling you this?  By not paying attention to a small detail (what gate I was supposed to go to) I had problem after problem after problem that needed to be solved.  Fortunately I had a good travel agent who was able to help me out, although if that didn't work I would have just driven.  I didn't need to worry about the cost so changing plans at the last minute wasn't an issue.  I was instantly able to come up with a back up plan and a back up plan for that back up plan.  My plans, which were so set in stone yesterday afternoon, became very very fluid.

I learned a good lesson that not paying attention to just one small detail can cause a tidal wave of problems. This was only a monetary problem, it wasn't a medical or safety issue.   All turned out just fine.