It wasn’t due to the gift of prophecy, but on Monday I predicted yesterday might be a physically challenging day for me. As I was putting my things away in my hotel room, I discovered that the cascading handle on my rolling suitcase would not collapse. I had pulled the bag several blocks from the subway station to the hotel.
Cleverly, I had placed my computer bag securely on top of the rolling bag. The weight of the computer bag had uniformly bent and crumpled the cascading handle. Try as I may to shove the handle back down, it was not forgiving. It would not collapse. It was permanently crumpled.
The expression, “Houston, we’ve got a problem”, surfaced in my head. There was no way I could check my bag at the airport for the return flight home if the handle wouldn’t collapse. Consequently, I would have no way to get my luggage on the plane.
Who would have thought my computer was that heavy? Actually, I could hgave come close to making that guess. Two years ago when I needed a new work computer, I suggested a light-weight Apple Notebook. The folks who manage our agency’s IT system said, “No way”! From my perspective they don’t always get it right.
When I made the discovery on Monday evening that the cascadnig handle would no longer collapse, I told myself I had three days to come up with a solution. I really didn’t want to have to purchase new luggage, but I might not have an option. Before I went to bed Monday evening, I decided to try one more thing. Instead of pushing down on the handle with my hands like I had done earlier, I turned the luggage upside down and pounded the handle against the floor. On the third try the handle began to recede. I was elated. I finally pounded it back in place.
Deciding to leave well enough alone, I now had the problem of a rolling bag that wouldn’t roll. I wasn’t willing to risk pulling the cascading handle back out. Consequently, I would have to carry the suitcase. Did I mention it was heavy? Regardless of the inconvenience, the problem of getting the bag back on the plane was now solved.
Thursday morning as I packed my luggage, I considered my options for geeting to my meeting. The conference site was a little over two miles from my hotel. I could take a taxi to the meeting or I could walk. I guess I’m a creature of habit. I opted to walk. Really, how hard could it be?
The truth of the matter, I chose to walk just because I could. For about ten years of my life I had back issues and during that time walking became increasingly difficult. I eventually was very limited in how far I could go before I was in severe pain. Back surgery proved to be the miracle cure. Since that time, when I have an opporunity to walk I choose to do so. The ability to walk is not something I take for granted. The challenge for me would not related to walking, but lugging a suitcase and computer bag.
I will admit the second mile was more difficult than the first. I periodically found myself stopping briefly to exchange bags between hands. I repeated that process three or four times. I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally saw the building where the conference was taking place.
When I entered the building I made three resolves: (1) I will never wear new dress shoes to a meeing if I have to walk any distance. (2) I will buy a new suitcase with a sturdy cascading handle and four wheels when I get back home (preferrably on sale). (3) I will refrain from ever taking my office laptop with me anywhere if I have to personally transport it any distance.
Subsequently, as I made myway from the conference location heading to the airport, I was immensley grateful that the Metro station was only six blocks away. I lugged my lugage and laptop a little oveer four blocks when I had a panic attack. Out of nowhere, it occured to me I couldn’t remember putting my iPad in my computer bag. I had used it at the conference to take notes. I remembered putting the charger in my bag, but what about the iPad?
You guessed it. The iPad was not in my computer bag. It wasn’t there the first time I looked. It wasn’t there the second time I looked. A block later when I stopped to look again, it still wasn’t there. I was more than a little frustrated with myself.
Somehow the four blocks seemed longer backtracking over them. Entering the building, I asked the receptionist if I could leave my luggage on the first floor instead of hauling it back upstairs. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found the iPad and keyboard right where I left them. Now to retrace my steps.
I obviously was moving mofre slowly than before as I embarked on my walk back toward the Metro. Six blocks later I was at the intersection of 17th Street N.W. and “I” Street. I didn’t see the Metro. It isn’t often I ask for directions, but I was tired, my hands hurt and I was ready to get off my feet. Turning to the nearest person to me, I asked, “Excuse me, can yuo tell me where the Metro is located?” Instead of answering my question, he asked “Which Line?” I replied “Red”. He pointed in the direction where the Metro was located. it was a block back in the direction I had already walked. In fact, I could see the Metro sign. There was a city park between me and the station. There were no building to impair my vision.
What’s one more block? Actually, it was really a block and a half becasue there was not a protected crosswalk that went directly to the Metro. I had walk most of the block when it occured to me that I told the man I was looking for the Red Line. What was I thinking? I needed the Blue Line. I looked back in the direction I’d come from and saw another Metro sign.If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Arriving at the Metro I discovered the escalator was not working. Great! At least I was walking down rather than up. I walked to the entry gate, took my Metro card out of my wallet and inseerted in in the slot. It came out of the slot in front of me like it was supposed to, but the gate didn’t open. I tried it again. It didn’t open. A stranger attempted to assist me. Still no luck.
I went to the Metro office to ask for assistance. Instead of replacing my card, he simply opened the gate. I asked what I needed to do if the card didn’t work on the other end. Simple solution, “Ask the agent for help.”
As I got off the Metro at the airport, I heard music. It was coming out of my computer bag. Opening the bag, I discovered the sound of “Live Like You Were Dying” coming from my iPad. I smiled. It sounded almost like the Alleluia Chorus. I didn’t give up. I kept going. I made it to the airport. I walked when I needed to just because I could.
I was not surprised when the Metro card didn’t work. The gate agent at the airport terminal to me to take the Metro card to the Pentagon station. I am sure that I looked at him as though he was totally incoherent and said, “I am flying from here to Austin. The Pentagon station is a little inconvenient.” He responded, “Then ail it back. They will refund your money.”
The next hurdle was getting to Terminal “A”. The Metro statiojn was located near Terminal “C”. Believe me when I say that is a very long walk.
I was elated to check my suitcase and just be left with the computer bag. Out of curiousity, I asked the gate agent if he’d weigh the computer bag for me. He expressed surprise when he discovered it weighed 21 pounds. I then asked if he’d weigh the suitcase. It weighed 26 pounds. No wonder my hands hurt.
All My Best!
Don