I chose the wrong time to fly Continental.  This is the week they “unite” with United and become one.  That means integrating flights for both companies.  That means a two hour wait on the phone to see if I can make a change in my flight home from Virginia.  Or, the second time I called, they honestly said that they were so overwhelmed that it would be better to call back later.

So, why should I change my plans?  I received an invitation from the Charlottesville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated inviting me to be a guest at their Ninth Annual Celebration Brunch held in partnership with the Virginia Festival of the Book at the end of March. The Links, Inc. is “one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.” This is a delightful surprise. In order to go, I have to change my plane ticket.

My current flight leaves Dulles Airport in Washington DC at 6:00 PM.  But if I go to the luncheon, I’ll get to DC too late to catch the plane.  I was hoping for a later flight, but the 6:00 is the last one they have that night.  This makes no sense to me.  I’m riding with someone else from Virginia to DC, so…  I have to see what she is up to.

She is Jackie Boor, co-author with LTC Gene T. Boyer, of Inside the President’s Helicopter: reflections of a White House Senior Pilot.  She will be speaking at the Smithsonian later in the week!  She is a friend of my editor.

So I get an adventure on my way to my adventure.

Whether I get to the luncheon or not, I do have the following sessions on the second day of the festival.

• Festival Luncheon – Dr. Edward L. Ayers, historian and President of the University of Richmond, speaks about the 150th anniversaries of the Emancipation Proclamation and the commencement of the Civil War and their impact upon contemporary life.
• Presidents: Their Homes, Their Lives.  Jackie Boor will present at this session.
• The Many Faces of American Slavery.  Bruce Carveth.

These are my choices out of 47 possibilities.  Location and time are the considerations – along with interest.  47 possibilities!  That’s better than Baskin Robbins.