Today's World-Wide Woes...

... others warned us!

"Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction, whether it be in the seasons, or in individuals, or in governments."

"Excess of liberty, whether it lies in state or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery." Plato (427 - 347 BC)

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." Sun Tzu (400 - 320 BC)

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

"Nothing but a fiery ordeal, out of which humanity will emerge, chastened and prepared, can succeed in implanting that sense of responsibility which the leaders of a newborn age must arise to shoulder?" Bahá'u'lláh (1817 - 1892)

Passport Saga...

... continued!

So, Sylvia rushed my passport to the Airport. Time's of the essence. She drives her sleek Miata and is, well, in a rush! With the airport in sight a police car facing her, turned on the lights, and motioned her to stop. (There's never police on that road.)

Did I say that Sylvia was in a hurry, on a mission?

She slowed down, rolled down her window and yelled at the officer across the street "This is an emergency, I am going to the airport, follow me, I can't stop!" With gritted teeth she drove at speed limit to the airport, followed by the cruiser and got out of the car. The officer tried to stop her again, asking her for her driver's license. Sylvia said "I'll show you my license when I get back", ran into the terminal, found the CMA crew waiting for her and gave them the envelope. The crew wanted to help her with the police, but were scheduled to leave. Some other people overheard and trailed her back to the car to show support.

When Sylvia got back to her car she finally explained to the officer what had happened. She did a great job of it, because the officer reduced the ticket to an amount that I can manage. You didn't think I would leave my quick-witted friend hanging, did you?

Don't leave for the USA...

... without your passport!

This is a neighbourhood story and one about that type of service we thought we'd lost.

Marilyn had the brilliant idea that one can scan the passport, save it on the USB stick as a password protected file, in case you loose your passport. Did that--good idea--and I left my passport in the scanner...

Yet, I was so organized, all the papers together, was ready for pickup, arrived in Vancouver, had breakfast, talked to some friends on the prepaid cell phone I rarely use, and decided to check in about 2 hrs 15 miniutes before departure for my flight to Denver, Co. Right away I needed the passport number for the customs form and voila, NO PASSPORT.

PANIC!!!

How could I be so stupid? So, I creep back to Comox and go to work? Geez, nooooo! The United Agent asked a few questions and had an idea. He checked and found that a CMA flight was about to leave in 30 minutes from Comox and suggested that perhaps they would bring me my passport. What the heck, can't loose to try. Time's tight, very tight.

I called neighbours, Marilyn, then Bob, no luck, then Sylvia. She's home. She got my passport out of the scanner while I walked to CMA to ask if they would bring the passport if it were delivered to the airport. Yes they would. Sylvia rushed to the airport, gave them the passport, I waited 45 minutes and had it in my hands. From the time I walked away from the United counter to the time I got back there 1 hour 10 minutes has passed!

I made the flight in good time and I am here. Amazing eh? Sylvia, I owe you BIG TIME. And United and CMA, I owe you a letter of thanks! And yes, the cell phone paid for itself several times over.

Great conference too.