Going, Going, Almost Gone

I suffer from a condition I’ve labelled calendar dyslexia. Calendar dyslexia results in dates and times being confused, reversed, and even forgotten.

For a couple of months now I’ve been planning my trip to Antigua, Guatemala. My airline reservations have been made and printed, and I have the documents neatly filed in a folder proudly stamped: “Guatemala!”

I’ve told everyone I know that I’m going to leave on Thursday, April 9. I’ve planned to pack for a trip that leaves on Thursday, April 9. A week ago I pulled out my itinerary to see what time my flight departs. Imagine my surprise when I read that my flight is scheduled for 7:10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8. 

After experiencing a brief out of body moment, I texted my brother to find out when I’d told him to expect me. Thank goodness I’d copied him on my original itinerary, so he wasn’t caught off guard.

All was discovered well in advance of the trip, so no harm, no foul. This time.

You see, calendar dyslexia has affected me on numerous occasions. Once I was visiting my son and his family in Keller, Texas. I’d told him I was flying home on Thursday. My daughter happened to call on Wednesday morning and asked when I’d be flying back to Illinois. I told her, Thursday the 12th. She got really quiet and said, “Mom, today’s the 12th.”

“No,” I argued. “Tomorrow’s the 12th.”

I didn’t have a smart phone at the time, but I ran upstairs and dug out my itinerary. Sure enough, my flight was to leave on Wednesday. In less than three hours.

I got off the phone with daughter and called son. Since I was babysitting his beautiful children I couldn’t just hop in a cab and head to the airport. He was at his office in Dallas and had to make haste to get home. In the meantime I bathed, dressed, got the kids ready to go and packed. We raced to the airport and I arrived just minutes before my flight.

There was no way I would make it. Except that someone was looking out for me (fools and drunks, you know) and the flight was delayed.

I’d provide other examples, but perhaps I’ll save them. My self-esteem can handle only so much humiliation at one time.

Author: nananoyz

I'm a semi-retired crazy person with one husband and two cats. View all posts by nananoyz