Watch Yourself

On occasion, my life is a comedy of errors and Thursday was one of those days. I rushed through my day here at the office so that I could get myself home and pack for a long weekend in North Carolina. It's not often that I would decide NC is my state of choice (I'd much prefer Hawaii) but seeing as how I was attending the 2nd birthday of my god daughter, I had no choice. My flight wasn't until 7PM, but I gave myself a half day because I know myself. I know I always need extra time to do things and I need to have that buffer. I even needed an extra 45 minute buffer at the office, and left later than planned. I rushed home, I packed and I headed to my mother's house since it's conveniently down the street from a train station. I could walk to the station, hop on the train, connect in Jamaica, make my AirTrain to JFK and be on my way.

Even after my delay, I still made it to my mom's with plenty of time. I walked in, charged my cell phone (just because I'm paranoid) and checked the clock on the wall. 3:30PM. My train wasn't until 4:41 and the station is litterally a two minute walk. I plopped on the couch, checked the TiVo and popped on an old episode of Bones to kill some time. After all, nothing like a little David Boreanaz to distract you from boredem. The episode finished up and I checked the clock on the wall: 4:15. Perfect. I decided, rather than being late (even though I was nowhere near late at this point), I should start getting ready. I walked to the kitchen, unplugged the cell phone and happened to notice the time: 4:40.

My heart constricted in my chest and I knew I'd been unintentionally screwed. The lovely antique looking clock on the wall had been wrong. I grabbed my phone, my jacket and my bag and ran down the driveway just in time to see the railroad gates closing. I would never make it. I threw my stuff in my car (sans cell phone charger) and just drove. I went back and forth through options...I couldn't beat that train to the next station, but thanks to the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) and their high tech options, I managed to get the Mineola schedule and made it there in record time. Eventually, I was on the train and I made it to JFK only to see that my flight had been delayed by two hours.

All my panic, all my anxiety, all my stress (and a $15 parking ticket at Mineola since my mom didn't pick up my car in time, shocker) could have been avoided if I'd just worn a watch. Back in the day (you know, like 8th grade) my watch never left my wrist. I had it on at all times and when I didn't wear it, I felt naked. Now somewhere between high school and college, my need for a watch diminished and now my wrists are always naked. But this experience has taught me two things: never trust my mother's clocks. She told me after I called her in a panic that "Yeah, that clock's 25 minutes slow." And 2: wear a watch. Sure cell phones are handy, but cell phones die. So to anyone needing a recommendation for a promotional giveaway, I suggest promotional watches.

Seriously, though, anyone wanna give me one?