If you've ever wondered if I'd go out of my way to spin a yarn with my blog, let me affirm that truth is stranger than fiction, and today, I have a story to share. I can also truthfully say that I hope I don't duplicate it again.
Scripture tells us that Abraham and Sarah went out not knowing. Though the General and I had a destination in mind, we also went out not knowing. In the process of discovery, I opted for laughter rather than to allow it to spoil my day, but it felt like a sucker punch in the gut.
Our feet hit the floor by 3:30 yesterday morning. We were out the door and on our way to the San Antonio International Airport by 4:30. Though we had to change planes in Houston, our final destination by air was Omaha, Nebraska. I was favorably impressed with the airport.
While we waited for luggage, I went to the "map app" on the General's phone and typed in Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center at Cedar Shore in Oacoma, South Dakota. I don't remember the distance, but the app projected a three-hour driving time. That is consistent with the information I discovered when I made plans for us to fly to Omaha and drive to South Dakota.
Interestingly, I discovered last night that if you do a Google search, you find the shortest distance between Chamberlain, SD and Omaha NE is 317 miles and a timeline of 4 1/2 –to- 5 hours drive. Why would I ever want to do that? I wouldn't! Next time, I will be more diligent about lots of things.
Shortly, after leaving Nebraska, it took almost no time for us to get to Iowa. While the countryside in Iowa is picturesque, it seemingly took forever a day to get to South Dakota.
We did stop for lunch and also made a couple of other brief stops, but we didn't arrive at the conference center until around 6:00 p.m.
I suggested to the General that we leave our things in the car and check in. I would then go back and get our things. When the guy behind the desk took out reservation cards and carefully went through them, before telling me he didn't have my reservation, it didn't come as a surprise. His body language when he looked at his computer alerted me that we had a problem.
He summoned a couple of other guys to assist. All three guys were professional and very polite, but close is no cigar. I went to the car to get my computer. I was certain that I received confirmation of the reservation. For the life of me, I could not locate it.
When I mentioned the conference taking place in their facility this coming week, they said they didn't have a conference scheduled. I knew that wasn't right.
I pulled up the conference program to substantiate that they did indeed have a conference scheduled. The guy looked at me and said, the conference is in South Dakota. We are in Iowa.
No, No, No - a thousand times no! How could that be? Who knows?
The man said, "South Dakota is a very long way from here." He wasn't joking. I did a Google search instead of the map app search and found I was over three hours away from where I needed to be, and for most of that way, the speed limit was 80 mph.
I opted to laugh instead of cry. The General and I had enjoyed the drive up to this point. Why not choose to enjoy 3 more hours.
The resort in South Dakota is in Oacoma. The resort in Iowa is in Okoboji. I'm telling myself it was a simple mistake. It could happen to anyone, but hopefully never to me again.
So yesterday took us from:
• Texas to Nebraska
• Nebraska to Iowa
• Iowa to South Dakota
• South Dakota back to Iowa
• Iowa to Minnesota
• Minnesota to South Dakota
The sound of "I've been everywhere man," is rolling around inside my head.
All My Best!
Don
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