In the spring of 1975 when the United States rushed to pull out of Saigon, when the North Vietnamese advance was imminent, when the US government announced that everyone was out of Vietnam who wanted to be out of Vietnam--well, everyone wasn't. Eleven marines were left at the American embassy. Henry Kissinger in a post-moment interview, in his deep-growl voice said "It was another epic screw-up."
Epic screw-ups are unavoidable. They are life's pebbles in shoes.
A helicopter returned and the marines were truly the last out of Saigon.
But not all epic screw-ups are remedied. Fifty-eight thousand American lives were lost in Vietnam. Millions of Vietnamese died.
I keep hearing Henry Kissinger's voice. His quote keeps returning to my mind.
I keep making my own epic screw-ups, but fortunately all have been remedied. There have been two within the same week, but I will spare the embarrassment and only write about one --along with the best remedies.
1. Admit the mistake and apologize
2. Rectify as quickly as possible.
3. Forgive oneself and plan for the future.
4. Be kind to everyone throughout the scramble. People are willing to help other people when they're kind. Kindness is the great diffuser.
We rented a house on Folly's Beach just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. We flew in two days early to help our daughter drive the 2.5 hours with her one-year-old. Her husband got time off and would meet us after work. Our other daughter and son-in-law got excited, booked a red eye into Charleston and would stay the weekend with us.
We started to pack. We got our check-in code. Everything was set.
Until a rental representative called. "Your reservation is for 2023."
I'd missed it. This was my epic screw-up.
I went to work immediately. Found another place. Texted. Called. Reasoned. Stayed calm. Expressed gratitude over and again to the people helping me.
It worked out.
Another beach house down the road was open. The rental difference was only $179 total.
The benefit of the whole mistake: Always CHECK THE YEAR!!!
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