A little late getting this one out. Its a few weeks old, but was sitting in drafts. But here goes.
I went to Tampa on a business trip which included a 5:30 am flight out or Norfolk Wednesday morning. Getting up at 3:30 to go catch a plane is not one of those things that I ever really look forward to, but in the interest of fulfilling my Tuesday night commitment, and spending 1 less night away from home, I pressed through it. At any rate, we boarded, flew to Atlanta, where the beginning of what would unfold in the next few days would take place. I "deplaned" (such a goofy word, but what other word works there? unboarded? deboarded? got off of? I digress...) the flight in from Norfolk, and made my way over to the other gate to catch the flight from Atlanta to Tampa. Upon arriving at the gate, they had already started boarding for those privileged flyers riding up front in more comfortable seats with better service and the like. Then it happened...They stopped boarding due to storms. So, those privileged, elite, status members were set in their seats in the plane, and now for an undetermined amount of time, would have to sit on the plane with no power while us unbathed commoners in zone 3 that sit in the back with the chickens, got to walk around in the terminal, grab a water and something to eat at our leisure. A small but fulfilling victory for the common oppressed non-status flying man today, while the elitists status members sat in the plane not moving! I would be remiss if I did not confess to mocking them with a few of the other oppressed people. After 20 minutes or so, we unbathed commoners were allowed to take our seats in the back with the chickens and the plane took off for Tampa.
We did our meetings and dinners, and I got to raise a glass with a coworker and friend who has experienced the same as I have gone through this year. He was told by a urologist that he had cancer, but it wound up not being the case. So we were able to raise a glass together at some place in Ybor City, and while we both have more to go, to be completely healed, we celebrated our blessing of a new lease on life. Thursday rolled around and I started to get delay notifications while in meetings. Once the meetings ended, one of the guys rode with me to the airport. As we pulled into the rental car return, we noted that they were slammed full of cars. I looked at him and said, "this is not a good sign." ...thinking that Atlanta may have blown up and people drove from Atlanta down. As it turns out that assumption was right. After we had seen his flights get cancelled, and mine delayed, we heard the announcement that Atlanta was closed for 8 hours on Thursday and had experienced a ton of scheduling issues on Wednesday, as well. So we booked him a nearby hotel room, I rented a car, and called a friend who I wound up staying with Thursday night. I then got the next available flight out which was 6pm Friday.
While working from my friend's kitchen I stated to get more delay notifications from Delta. As I looked at the site for flight scheduling, it looked like they were behind 3-4 hours, and I figured, I'd just get home really late Friday night. I left for the airport at 3:30 pm and wound up stuck behind an accident where they shut the interstate down. That required rerouting around Tampa Bay to get to the airport. No problem, frustrating, but no problem. I finally got to the airport and noted that I had several more delays for my flight. So much so that my flight from Tampa was landing after the flight from Atlanta to Norfolk would take off. If the 2nd flight delayed, I would be fine. If not, I would be stuck in Atlanta for at least the night. Upon inquiring, the next available out of Atlanta was Saturday night.
Decision time...I walked into the airport took a look around at the chaos and decided to take a seat and ask God what He wanted me to do. I knew I had an appointment at 10 am Saturday with Kitty Hawk Surf Co who had expressed some interest in our Jelly SUP brand kayak/hybrid boards, but that was an unlikely at this point and would need to be rescheduled. After weighing my options of stuck in ATL vs. drive until I drop and then some, I talked to Kelly who agreed that I should go for it. Another factor weighing on my nerves was that I did not have my distance glasses which are needed at night to drive, and especially on unfamiliar I75, I10, I95 and a couple country road short cuts around Gainsville. So I confessed my fear of fatigue, bad vision, rental car, and going to God. I felt God telling me to go. At the same time, this worry about not being able to see, already being tired from short night's sleep for the past 3 nights, and general doubt was on me like a funk that would not go away...or maybe that funk was just being in the same clothes for 3 days.
So, I told God I needed Him and left the airport in a rental car en route for Norfolk with a 24 hour window to make it there per the rental agreement. As I pulled out of the airport and got onto I275 heading for I75, I of course hit traffic. Now I would get to sit and think about my decision which was a no go back thing at this point since I may not be able to get back to the airport in time. I was lucky enough to have Kelly and my parents who were willing to talk on the phone with me as I drove into the sunset over Florida. I managed to get to I 75N by around sunset. The sun dropped and darkness set in, and I had some interesting navigation through Florida to make my way over to I95 North at Jacksonville. Part of that wound up being a short cut through the Gainsville area where I met the first of 4 people I would encounter. A nice old country girl who offered me advise on routing and to get off of 75, skip the elbow where it intersects 10, and use 301 to cut through.
I think I finally got off of the phone with my dad the second time at 10:30pm or so in Brunswick GA after a good long conversation. I called Kelly, and we decided to start looking for possible hotel locations in Savanah, SC or anywhere around there so that I could get some rest. As luck would have it this was Master's weekend in Augusta and spring break weekend. Net net, no room and any inn from GA to NC on 95. I would have to drive through the night. Fortunately, my rental car had Siruis/XM and I wound up listening to a message about God's plan for us. It dawned on me that I may be on a God ordained mission to get to my appointment at KH Surf Co. I spent the remainder of the night gulping ridiculous amounts of coffee, which I had been off for 2 months, listening to messages, and spending time with God.
Kelly woke up and called around 4:50 am which was the voice I needed to hear while driving through the Raleigh Durham area. Sunrise came and I pushed on and pulled into Norfolk airport at 7:00. If I could get through rental return, grab my car, get home, shower, and pack, I had a shot at the 10 am appointment in OBX. So, that was my course.
After driving the last leg of the trip, I pulled into the house in Kill Devil Hills at 9:30 or so. Kelly and I jumped into the car and headed over to KHSC and pulled into their parking lot at 9:52am for the 10 am appointment. We stopped, asked God to preside over the meeting since I was an over caffinated zombie, and whatever His will, we would be thankful for a safe trip back, making the appointment, and hopefully some sleep at some point that day. We went in, met Jason, and lo and behold they bought. Who'd a thunk it? I am at my absolute worst, and they still bought a couple our Jelly SUP inflatable boards as a test run. since then there has been a lot of interest and even purchase, and the hope is that we can work up a bulk order from Shanghai with their logo.
God seems to answer prayers at just the right time, and do it in such a way where you know it was him. I hadn't planned this, wasn't really thinking about it in my plight of being stuck in airports, and had frankly written it off, but He had another plan. Praise to God!
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