Getting there. Getting back.

I’m supposed to travel today. Flying. Flying to Montana. My confidence level is pretty low.

So far though, everything is on time. Tampa to Minneapolis. Minneapolis to Kalispell, Montana. 11:30 pm arrival.

I’ve been getting a lot of emails from Delta Airlines. One says it’s free to rebook. Another from the CEO apologizing for delays and cancellations.

What does all this tell me? Take two days worth of underwear in my carry on.

I’m also packing my Stoic philosophy. Epictetus. Marcus Aurelius. Ryan Holiday. “I have power over my mind. Not outside events.” Or… “The obstacle is the way. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Look, I have no control over any of this. If I get delayed or canceled, it’s not because of me. If it happens, I’ll make the most of it.

Looking at this from a news standpoint, travel is a mess right now. The airlines are still dealing with a worker shortage. Flight disruptions continue.

Hundreds of delays and cancellations yesterday. 23-thousand cancellations since Memorial Day. What’s going on here?

That email I got from Delta CEO Ed Bastian explains it this way: “The summer travel season is well underway, and I share the excitement of so many of you who are returning to the skies as restrictions lift and entire regions of the world reopen. At the same time, I know many of you may have experienced disruptions, sometimes significant, in your travels as we build our operation back from the depths of 2020 while accommodating a record level of demand.”

Delta pilots have their own take on things. NPR reports that more than 1200 pilots and staff demonstrated at seven airports yesterday. They want a new contract, higher pay and better benefits.

Delta pilot Reed Donoghue told NPR this: “Our message today was for Delta management that it was time to come to the table for an industry-leading contract. And you know, [for] passengers out there flying this weekend, know that there’s a good chance that at least one crew member on their flight, being a flight attendant or a pilot, is likely, you know, working overtime on their day off to help the operation out.”

As bad as all this seems, it could be worse. At London’s Heathrow, they had to cancel flights because of public safety. Airport officials took the drastic measure after realizing passenger numbers would exceed security capacity.

Thirty flights were canceled. That’s a drop in the bucket for Heathrow, but many passengers didn’t find out until they arrived at the airport. “Total chaos,” is how one described it.

My feeling on all this… after two years of being cooped up, everybody wants to go somewhere. The problem is that those that get us there are just not ready.

Back to my Montana trip. My return on Tuesday is kind of complicated. Kalispell, Montana, to Minneapolis, to Detroit, to Tampa.

That’s July 5. You think my confidence level is low with two stops today… hahaha for Tuesday!!!

I just keep telling myself pack that Stoic philosophy patience. Oh, and two days worth of underwear in my carry on.