My recent trip to Chicago was wonderful for the time it provided to spend with my writing cousin, catching up on all her activities, oohing and ahing over her new e-books and her plans for others. But it also reminded me that I need to plan better. Someone once said a “failure to plan = a plan to fail.” How well I now understand what was meant.
It’s been about 15 years since I was in Chicago and the road system is much changed. As a result, I got lost going from the rental car parking lot–in the dark and rainy evening traffic–to my cousin’s home in one of the western suburbs. Two hours and two phone calls to her finally resulted in my arrival, exhausted and far more stressed than I had anticipated.
Five days later, I climbed in the car and headed back to O’Hare, only to miss the turn-off (or was it not marked?!) and having to travel many miles out of my way before being able to exit the tollroad, call for directions and then follow the phoned instructions of the person who kept assuring me I WOULD make my plane. I had my doubts. Thank goodness for securing my boarding pass on line and not planning to check my luggage.
I finally arrived at the correct kiosk with barely ten minutes to spare.
Decision time: my next visit will involve using a limo service!
