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May 01, 2009
Middle Age?
Weekend before last, Chis and I disappeared to Miami Beach for a little chill. I posted some photos shortly after we returned. But I didn't tell this story, and I am finally ready to reveal. The reason I have held back is because I felt really stupid, but because the story ends on a wonderful note, I have to tell.
We no longer take cabs to the local airports, which means we don't fly in or out of Laguardia, because public transit is difficult. It's not just the cost of the cabs, it's our commitment to lowering our carbon footprint by taking public transit.
The usual and unexpected happened on our subway ride to JFK. To make a long story short, the 40 minute trip took almost an hour and a half. It squeezed our time to get to the gate to catch our flight. And security was a mad panic with delays and people yelling and hollering.
On the jetway, I notice that my napsack seemed light. I dropped to my knees, zipped it open, and quickly determined that the missing weight was my laptop. I sprinted back to security, and it was gone. I asked various security agents, all whom said they didn't see it. They checked the places where they normally put valuables, but nothing. I sprinted back to the gate. I explained what had happened to the gate agent, who called over three TSA agents who wrote a report. The American Airlines agent took my name and cell number and said she would check after her shift.
I got on the plane. My heart sank. Photos, tax returns, condo files, personal stuff, the two books I was writing. No backup. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I fretted the whole way to Miami. Made lists in my head of the things I would need to do. Cancel online banking, credit card passwords, etc, etc.
We landed in Miami, and I turned on my phone. Laura, the gate agent, had left me a message to say that she had found my laptop. She gave me instructions on how to retrieve it when I got back to New York.
I got my laptop when we returned. I was thrilled. And Laura got a $50 Starbucks gift card for being so thoughtful. Good karma. Laura deserves good things in her life.
And finally, a great airline story!
Posted by dave at May 1, 2009 07:03 PM