My Tardy Morning
Dear _____________________,
I’m Filipino which translates to: I am always late. It’s pretty much decided at birth that characteristically, I will always, yes always, be late. In terms of school talk, it’s called being tardy. I’m the best at being tardy…it’s in my blood…unfortunately.
Not too recently I was running late (which is normal) to CNA clinicals. Mind you, the institution at which I take them are real time watchers and will “terminate your enrollment if in the case you fail to meet start times”. My clinical site was located all the way in Mequon…I live in Franklin. And for those of you who aren’t familiar with Southeast Wisconsin, that’s far!
It takes me about forty-five mins. via freeway to make it there and I usually leave about an hour prior to start time, which is 6:15am, giving me extra leeway. On this day when the bright protruding sun rays tickled my eye did I wake up at 5:52am. I WAS GOING TO GET THE BOOT WAS ALL I THOUGHT. I quickly got out of bed, put my hospital scrubs on, grabbed my car keys and left with a granola bar and water bottle in my hands (I’m beast when it comes to getting ready in five minutes).
As soon as I started my rusty SUV and heard its engines roar, I knew…it was game time! I was going to fast and furiously drive my ass to the clinical’s site like a boss. I mean, it got real. I got on the highway and soared at a raging 95mph (I hope a cop isn’t reading this). I’d tell you I felt free, but at the moment, I was having an anxiety attack.
Everything was a blur: cars and construction just zoomed passed by as if I was piloting the SS Enterprise in jump-drive. I came to the final stretch of highway before I had to exit. Since I was in a more rural location, the freeway was now only two-laned…which really pushed my buttons because the goody-two shoed people who know how to pleasantly welcome there morning alarms were simply taking their time blocking both lanes while enjoying the scenery of their morning commute. On the other hand, I was not. My 95 came to a slow 50 and I was missing the SS Enterprise view.
You know how on freeways they have, I believe what is called, the shoulder? You know, that extra lane to the side that everyone is forbidden to drive in? Well, it was sending me an open invitation. An invitation that said, “Hey Walli, I know you’re running late, choose me!”. Boy-oh-boy did I want to join that party. But I decided, “Let’s be on the safe side and grudgingly follow these ‘early bird catches the worm’ morons to the clinical site”. So I did and in the two seconds I made that decisions knew I would regret it.
Forty-five minutes. Well it’s been twenty and it was already five past the start time…I was getting the boot. It took me an extra ten minutes after exiting the freeway to get there. Not to mention I had to find parking…this place was huge!!! Another five minutes there.
I ran across the parking lot like a maniac into the main lobby and there. There my teacher was with the rest of the class just staring at me with bug eyes.
“I know I’m so sorry I was…” “Two more minutes and you would’ve been gone, Walli. We go on floor at 6:30. I gave you an extra five minutes after I noticed you weren’t on the elevator. Be thankful.”, interrupted my instructor.
Thankful, I was! I wasn’t about to put myself through CNA classes only to get kicked out at the end during my clinicals. I felt like I dodged a bullet. A huge sigh of relief was needed and it came!
Being tardy, it’s always something that I have tried avoiding since birth! Consider it a habit I’m trying to fix. Though, if anything, one thing I know about being tardy is that it always brings the doer in me. I become this productive machine who cares about everything that needs to be done. Imagine it: finishing that U.S. His. paper the night before, reading the AP Language material during the class period prior to, or even tidying the house before mom gets home. It give me a sense of urgency.
Maybe it’s that sense of urgency I need to push upon myself to get things done and on time (I hope that made sense). Or at least have the discipline to get things done and on time. As for trying to wake up on time…it’s TIME to buy a new alarm clock!
Until then, Walli
