Second of two parts

Re “On the Road with a Phon-y Setback”

What could go wrong just because you were spending five days on the road without your cell phone – and you were traveling alone?

My first visit to Seattle to share Rosh Hashana with my fiancé Shira was quieter than intended. Since the two days of Rosh Hashana immediately were followed by Shabbos, it meant my phone would have been turned off for 72 hours anyway, even if I had had a phone to turn off.

By 8:30 Saturday evening, cell phones were lighting up. We were starting to learn what had occurred in the world. My son Matt texted – to Shira’s phone — he would pick me up at 1:35 at LAX.

By this stage of the Technology Age, it is a horrid feeling to be unable to contact anyone outside of the people in your presence.

To slightly complicate my travel plans, Sunday was a fast day. No eating or drinking before 7:27 p.m.

Since I had an early flight, Shira arrived promptly at dawn to go to the Seattle airport.  Once there, she secured a gate pass. We spent our last hour together, until minutes before takeoff.

What could go wrong?

At San Jose, we were to change planes amidst an hour and a half layover. Oops. Striding into the San Jose terminal, I was informed the layover would be doubled, three hours.

How to contact Matt?

I prevailed upon the kind offices of a clerk at a newsstand. Matt did not answer. I texted that I would land 90 minutes later than planned.

A helpful Southwest agent said she would try to find a seat for me on an LAX flight departing momentarily. Fortunately (?), she struck out.

When I turned around, the smiling newsstand clerk was dashing in my direction. She said Matt had texted back. He  t would arrive at 3 instead of 1:30. I thanked her.

Not long afterward, the same kindly Southwest agent cheerfully announced that after shuffling and switching, our flight would depart at the original time, 12:20. I needed to inform Matt.

Where was my instant phone friend, the newsstand clerk?

There she was, strolling through the terminal far ahead of me, going on a break. I called out. And again.

When we caught up, I dialed Matt and relayed the good news. We were back on for 1:35.

By 2:30, we were back in Santa Monica and I recovered my telephone. I resisted the temptation to kiss it.