The Karma of Scheduling

A little over a month ago I overslept and was several hours late to work. I didn't feel an ounce of guilt about it. I reasoned that after muddling through three weeks of sleepless nights, my sleep meds were finally kicking in and dammit, I deserved the sleep! So I stumbled into work around 10ish, then began my day of being late. I was late for an appointment, I was late for lunch, I was late getting home, late getting dinner ready, and so on...

I think my gluttonous day of lateness has soured my scheduling karma.

It all started with Boston with Bill not showing up at the hotel at 8 am as discussed. 10, 11, and noon soon followed, but no Bill. Finally around 1 pm I received a voicemail explaining all was ok, just some issues that needed to be worked out and now 8 am was now 2:30 pm.

Doctor's appointment at 4:00 pm that turned into 4:45 pm.

Arriving at the Farmer's market that's advertised to be open from 7 am - 1 pm at 12:15, and told that they really close at 12:30.

The new Simmons King-sized bed -- the salesperson told me they would need to order it, and the truck would arrive in a week on Wednesday. I requested delivery to be on Thursday at 7pm. He called yesterday, informing me the truck didn't have my bed and that another truck that would arrive on Friday would have my bed. "I'm leaving town Friday," I answered, realizing my scheduling karma was real.

The filing cabinet -- I have agreed to sell a filing cabinet to a stranger. We agree she'll pick it up at 6:00 pm on Tuesday...something comes up...reschedule for 8:30 pm -- at 9:45 pm with no knock at the door, I realize she isn't coming. The next morning I receive an email from her explaining she lost my phone number and directions. We reschedule for Wednesday at 8:30...at 9:30 I call and her sister explains to me of a family emergency. As of today we're still trying to reschedule.

Ok, so these are five out of a dozen examples. Once could say I've had several run in's with slackers, but none of the people are related, and I've interacted with them each for a different reason and way. It's scheduling karma I say.

Word to the wise, don't irritate the karma police.