LJWorld.com weblogs Rolling along
Posted
by Andrew Hartsock
October 9, 2009 at 8:23 a.m.
Sorry I'm late
I’m habitually late.
I mean, I’m late everywhere — chronically, habitually, unavoidably tardy.
It’s not that I think my time is more important than anybody else’s. It’s not some power trip. I’m not trying to be rude or insensitive. I’m not trying to send a message. And, believe it or not, I actually have a pretty good sense of timing.
It’s just that I try to squeeze so much into so little time, one thing runs over and the domino effect kicks in, and next thing you know, I’m checking in at the dentist’s office at 2:47 and saying, “Hi, I’m here for my 2:45 appointment,” even though I know and the receptionist knows it was really a 2:40 appointment or maybe even a 2:30 appointment, and the whole 2:45 thing was just a ruse.
Just today, I was supposed to attend a Very Important Meeting at work with that included my supervisor’s supervisor. I figured it would take me 15 minutes from the door of my house to the door to the office, so I planned to leave 25 minutes before the meeting.
Twenty-seven minutes away, I sat down to check and then fire off another e-mail, putting me a couple of minutes behind schedule. Then I grabbed a quick bite to eat in the car. And stopped to pet the cat.
Because it was raining, I decided to drive in and had trouble finding a parking space. I had hoped to go to my desk, fire up the computer, get a drink, grab some Very Important Meeting props — a pen, writing/doodling material, etc. — and saunter to the meeting place with time to spare. Instead, I bolted through the door just as my supervisor’s supervisor was seeking me out, no doubt wondering just where the heck I was.
At some point in this Very Important Meeting, when a string of acronyms lodged somewhere between my ears and brain and my eyes lost focus, it dawned on me that for all my habitual tardiness, I’m especially late when I drive.
I remember having the same epiphany years ago, when I observed to a racquetball buddy that whenever I rode to our games, I was only five minutes late. When I was forced to drive, it was more like 15 minutes.
Logically, it should be the other way around.
In a car, it doesn’t much matter if the road is a little damp or the wind is howling.
On a bike, though, I go a lot slower in the wet to cut down on road spray. And a headwind can add five or 10 minutes to a long commute, just as a tailwind can shave off a few seconds.
I spend more time on Weather.com than YouTube, even, and constantly adjust my bike departure times based on the elements. I’ve even been known to budget in a few minutes to account for that stubborn light on my regular commute that I just can’t seem to trip.
When I drive, however, I just wait until the last minute and figure I’ll overcome any unexpected setbacks — like traffic, the need to stop for gas (or fuel for the car even) — by treating speed limits as suggestions.
And, truth be told, I’m a slower driver because I don’t drive much. It’s easy to forget just how much time traffic and road construction and difficulty in finding a parking space can add to a commute.
With any luck, I won’t have to be reminded of it often.
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Comments
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SayWhat (anonymous) says…
Funny, I often have some of the same explanations when I end up running late. Hearing it coming from somebody else, they just sound like shallow excuses. Does it sound so lame and whiny when I try to justify (at least to myself) my tardiness?
geekin_topekan (anonymous) says…
Chronically,habitually? I'll buy that.
Unavoidably?Once a year. Beyond that one time it falls into the other two categories.
nickhawk (anonymous) says…
YOU may not think you place your time ahead of others, but in fact you think just that. Tardiness is, as you stated, a habit. Making people wait for you to decide to appear is selfish, nothing else.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
Okay, I think some of us missed the point....
anway, I think its very interesting how you are less late when you ride, as opposed to when you drive. And I can totally see that when you drive in a car, you don't think about allowing time as you would do on a bike.
And as far as the habitually late lightbulb which popped into your head, maybe you need to check the clock you are using. maybe its just slow, and why you are late.
BTW, people above, some places give you a five minute leeway. perhaps he works for one of them.
MeAndFannieLou (anonymous) says…
I live about a half-mile from my workplace. Sometimes I walk to work and sometimes I drive. Either way, I leave home at the same time and get to work at the same time. Why is this so? Parking, of course. What a hassle. I don't drive unless there is some compelling reason to (such as a dentist appointment during the day). Now I know a lot of people live too far from their workplaces to drive, but when I walk to work, I'm passing alot of my co-workers getting into their cars... I do wish taking the car weren't so automatic with most Americans.
KS (anonymous) says…
He can get there faster on a bike because he doesn't obey the traffic laws. You know, like running red lights, passing cars on the right, very close to the curb lane, running stop signs. You know, the ususal bike rider attitude, like I have more rights than a car, etc. Could be late due to making comments on these posts all the time. If you value your job in this economy, one would think one would wake up a little early and show up on time. Oh well.
lgreen17 (Laura Green) says…
Please, people who are always on time can be late, and people who are always late can be on time, so if you are never on time, you are doing it on purpose. I think they call it passive aggressive.
devobrun (anonymous) says…
"It’s not that I think my time is more important than anybody else’s. It’s not some power trip. I’m not trying to be rude or insensitive."
"It’s just that I try to squeeze so much into so little time"
So, yes, you are rude and insensitive. And yes, you are thinking that your time is more important than the time of others. Your claiming otherwise is actually a sure sign that you are just what you say you aren't.
Disconnect your feelings from your thoughts. Now think about the consequences of your actions. Characterize your actions dispassionately. You will find that you are behaving in a way that cannot be justified.
Entering your house justified every night is the only thing that you should seek. It is all that matters. Accomplishments, successes, loves, wins, all don't matter if you cannot justy yourself.
Stop being late. Others will appreciate you more and so will you.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
I have about five friends that are like this. I generally don't say anything, but. . . .
. . . . it sucks.
All of them say the same thing as you: they try to do too much. In other words, they have a 7:00pm obligation, but before they leave the house they have to get the mail out or they might forget, then they have to drop by the pharmacy, go get something to drink, turn back in the movies they rented, get gas, etc. (all of which can probably be accomplished afterwards, or maybe even tomorrow)
The secret is simple, don't plan all that crap when you've promised someone that you will be somewhere at a certain time. Do it beforehand to leave yourself enough time to get to your home or way-station, with enough time to then drive or bike straight there. Put your stuff away earlier than you need to leave and just bop around your house straightening stuff or something for the last five minutes.
This isn't hard, but it takes a simple realization that while you are busy doing other things and not thinking about time, time is still passingg. For the people who are waiting for you, probably watching the clock in many cases, with no clear idea of when you'll be there, time is probably passing pretty slowly.
At least have the grace to call ahead.
mrjcg2 (anonymous) says…
Wow, let's bag Andrew... he said he was sorry. I haven't met him, but having read his blog, and being a cyclist (I can't commute because it would destroy my clothes), I don't see any intentional rudness.
grimpeur (anonymous) says…
KS,
You're a punk. And a coward. Don't ever come in here again with that weak crap.