Like a Perfect Scene from a Movie Screen

I try to live my life like a movie if at all possible. Some might think this is unrealistic. But I think it's a romantic way to liven up most any situation. And I often think, "this will make a very funny/dramatic/magical/scary/romantic/heart-wrenching scene to the movie of my life."

So imagine my delight when I found myself stuck on the BW parkway in the worst traffic jam on my way to the airport. Sure, at first I was a little nervous that I would miss my 5:15 flight. And I chided myself for getting caught up at work and not leaving earlier. But when the clock hit 4:30 and I still wasn't moving, my mind turned to "movie mode"and sitting there I went through, in detail, how I would miraculously make my flight.

First, I'd start honking in order to move through the traffic. When that proved useless, I'd take it to the shoulder, speeding past all the cars, off-roading if I had to, finding a little shortcut to take me right to the terminal. I'd forgo the long-term parking lot as that would take too much time, instead driving straight to the "departing flight zone." Nearly in tears I'd explain to the kind old man at the desk how I couldn't miss one of my best friends wedding. Lucky for me he's the kind of employee who believes cusomter service to be the most important part of his job. He worked for Southwest for 30 years and in that time never had a customer miss a flight. He'd take it personally upon himself to help me make my flight and he'd enlist the help of all his buddies so that in a matter of moments the whole Southwest team is cheering me on. One guy would take my car and park it safely in long-term parking. My kind buddy would escort me to the front of the security line, explain my plight to the TSA and they wouldn't even make me take off my shoes. The woman at the front would call the gate and tell them to hold the plane. Then I'd run full-speed down through the terminal, giving a final wave to my helpful crew. I'd laugh at the irony of my gate being the furtherst away, but I'd make it in the nick of time. The whole plane would cheer when I made it onboard. And I would be one lucky woman.

Do you want to know how my movie scene actually played out? After some banging on the steering wheel and a few hundred, "come on, come on, come on, come on," traffic finally let up. I sped very fast (sorry dad) and booked it to long-term parking where I then rushed with my heavy bags to catch the shuttle. Then I nervously jumped up and down waiting for the bus driver to let me off the shuttle and rudely cut everyone in line at the curb-side check-in. The woman at curb-side did not rally around me to assist, but she was quite dramatic in her response:

"M,am, it is way too late. I can't even check you in out here. You have to go inside."

I ran inside, thankful for no line and asked the woman at the desk if she thought I could make it. She didn't rush to my aid either.

"You're flight leaves in 10 minutes. There is no way you are going to make it. " Apparently she didn't realize who I was.

"Can I try?" I asked her.

"Sure, you can try."

And that's when I started running. I ran to security and begged my way to the front of the line (thank you again kind folks). I still had to take off my shoes, and I didn't even bother to put them back on as I ran to the gate, down the escalator and wait....A3??? That wasn't as long of a run as I had anticipated. No one cheered at my arrival. In fact, there were still lines of people waiting to board.

It didn't work out exactly as planned, but I still made my flight. There was a brief moment of panic when the flight attendant announced our departure for St. Louis and I thought in my haste I had accidentally boarded the wrong plane. I started to imagine the scene it would cause to have to bring the plane back, while all the passengers moaned and groaned.

"Where is this plane going?" I asked the man next to me.

"St. Louis."

I gave him a look of horror before he assured me that the plane would then head to Salt Lake. We laughed and laughed at my confusion. I think I'll give him a part in my movie.