Success path

I have a story to tell.

Yesterday I was on a flight from Rhode Island to Richmond (home). Part of my flight included a layover in Philadelphia. I have never had any real issues on this route, which I have been on several times this year.

My plan included getting to the airport with enough time to change from business clothes to more comfortable jeans and shirt. Once I landed in Philadelphia, my layover was long enough and at the perfect time to eat lunch and get some work done. My plan then was to land in Richmond midafternoon with enough time to get home for a birthday party for our twins.

The best laid plans don’t always work as expected. It all started to work like clockwork until the plane in Providence taxied toward the runway.

The pilot announced that air traffic control in Philadelphia has asked for a 20 minute delay before we takeoff. I immediately modified my plan. If time was tight once I landed, I decided not to sit down for lunch and work but grab something to go and eat at the gate or on the plane.

Then the pilot announced a new delay of an additional ½ hour. I wasn’t defeated. I thought the flight might get there in just enough time to go directly to my next flight and I will forget about lunch.

By the time my flight landed in Philadelphia, we were taxiing to the gate 15 minutes after my connecting flight was scheduled to start boarding. As I checked my phone for an update on my connecting flight the status said “on schedule”. Dang! I felt defeated but quickly accepted my new reality. When I exited the plane a new ticket was waiting for me on a new flight two hours later than my original flight. The phrase, “there is no use crying over spilled milk” came to mind.

As I took the shuttle from terminal B to terminal F (a 10 minute ride) I thought I would at least be home to spend some time with my family.

I checked my original flight again one last time (because I now had time and it is fun to look important and busy on a smart phone). It said the flight was delayed 26 minutes. You know what I was thinking. I didn’t have anything to lose.

I went directly to the gate to see if the door was still open. I boarded the plane as the doors were closing. I just squeaked on the plane.

As I was sitting in my seat, I was reminded of my friend, neighbor, and now business associate. He always says that there is a success path in every obstacle. He is also right. If I had stopped looking for a success path I may have gotten home later.

When have you thought all hope was lost but didn’t give up?