So, I aimed to arrive at Midway at 5:45am for my 7am flight, but hit the snooze on the cell phone one too many times. What made me think that 6am traffic would somehow be lighter? At 6:57am I was still barefoot in the security line, almost on the verge of tears when the gruff TSA lady said she would need to run my purse through the x-ray a SECOND time, and then search it by hand for “additional screening.” I got on my 7am flight at 7:09, but alas, I got on the plane. Amen. I’ve already run into a number of poets from across the country making their annual pilgrimage to the National Poetry Slam. My connecting flight to West Palm Beach is about to start boarding. May this begin another life-changing week in the magical life of an artist.