I've Got to Learn How to Travel

Ok, I'm headed to Florida for some meetings. My flight was booked on Delta. I didn't think to get the boarding pass before I left my office. As soon as I got into line at the Delta gate, an attendant told me that the flight was operated by Northwest. Down to Northwest I go. I have about twenty minutes to check in before the 1/2 hour deadline. The line crawls and crawls. Finally, I ask a few people if I can cut in front of them so I can make the plane. Many people are very nice and allow me to since their flights are later. One pilot who's waiting to get a ticket becomes beligerent, however. Finally, after dealing with his nasty comments for a few minutes, I get up to the self check in. The computer does not recognize my credit card. Finally, I ask for some help from an agent. She gets me checked in, in what seems like just in time. I start running to the security check point. Again a slow line. Now, I know that I need to be on the plane twenty minutes ahead of time. I get through security and I start running. Anybody who knows me recognizes that I am not a runner. But out of breath, I run up to the gate. I'm sweating and uncomfortable....But relieved to see a full gate. The plane is late.