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Life’s Little Curve Balls

Life’s Little Curve Balls

Yesterday, I FedExed our luggage to a resort in Puerto Rico we’ll be visiting next week. The driver returned an hour later and said, “I didn’t realize it, but you gave me a domestic air bill. Puerto Rico requires an international air bill.” Sure enough, Puerto Rico is listed  on the FedEx site along with Estonia and New Zealand under foreign countries!

I completed the international air bill and customs forms, and then informed the resort that my luggage was en route. My contact there apologized, and said it couldn’t arrive today because it’s a national holiday and FedEx wasn’t working. But it would arrive on Monday. (We get in Sunday night, but always have an overnight bag, so no great harm done.)

I began to wonder what holiday would shut down FedEx in Puerto Rico but not the U.S. Upon investigation, I learned it’s the Epiphany, when the Magi visited the newborn Christ and brought gifts.

In a boringly politically correct world, I found these realities quite interesting. Puerto Rico, where people vote for President, is not considered part of the U.S. by FedEx, and then celebrating a Christian holiday as a “national” holiday. Who knows what today will bring?

As I’ve always maintained, I’m constantly surprised by how stupid I was two weeks ago.

© Alan Weiss 2012. All rights reserved.

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 2

  • Sheila Armstrong

    April 21, 2012

    Mr. Weiss,
    I’ve enjoyed reading your articles and have learned a great deal from them. Thank you! On a side note, It’s my understanding that the citizens of Puerto Rico do not have a vote in the Presidential election.

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