“Your flight was cancelled. Our apologies. Delta.”

That was the email I received. Then, when I got to the airport, returned my rental car, and tried to figure out what to do, it got even more interesting. My flight was truly cancelled. Not delayed. Just completely cancelled. Well, this was becoming more fun by the minute. My checked luggage was ostensibly going to Atlanta, but how would it or I arrive back at post?

I pulled out my laptop and tried to see if the ‘news’ sites could bring any clarity or help. As close as they came was to write that Microsoft/CrowdStrike were responsible. Okay, but what price will Microsoft/CrowdStrike pay for cancelled flights, delayed flights, lost luggage, sleeplessness, rental car expenses, Ubers, etc? I’m guessing $0.

I went to a coffee kiosk, purchased a black coffee and sandwich, and sat down. Breathe. Again. Breathe.

I finished my items, and knew I needed to find a bookstore. Fortunately, Seattle’s airport had a decent bookstore with a Classics section. I found a volume containing Hemingway’s debut novel as well as a few of his short stories. I have now read almost the entire thing through as I try to grin through this lovely adventure courtesy of Microsoft/CrowdStrike, and see when exactly I might return to post.

For now, though, I am finishing up the wonderfully sad story of Jake Barnes, Brett Ashley, and the lost generation. How fitting: lost. Kind of like the wisdom of this current situation.