A MUSICIAN'S MONDAY!

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No story like this is ever funny when it happens to us. And I usually never reprint e-mails. But my friend and musician David M. Bailey sent me this e-mail below and I was laughing through it because "When it rains, it pours". We can all relate to that! Here's how it went:

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"Late gig last night in Charlottesville. 3 hours sleep... left house at 5:30 am. Arrived at airport and discovered I'd left my (cell) phone at home. Bum a phone off security guard and call Leslie and ask her to get phone and bring it back to airport. She is not amused. I say "I really gotta have it on this trip!" Arrived in Dallas, got my bags. Took bags to curb, waited for hotel shuttle. While waiting, rental car shuttle pulled up. Unbeknownst to me, someone grabbed my suitcase and put it on the rental car shuttle! Moments later, the hotel shuttle arrived. I load my guitar and shoulder bags in back of hotel shuttle. Imagine my surprise when I see no suitcase! I run back inside to make sure I've not left it sitting somewhere. While doing so, hotel shuttle leaves with my guitar! Later, hotel shuttle returns with guitar!! Hotel shuttle waits as I go back in and file a stolen bag claim and leave contact info. I get on hotel shuttle and go to hotel. While there, I call airport Lost and Found and Security. Nada. Shuttle driver sees me and asks what I am going to do? I reply "say a prayer and wait." Driver shakes her head and asks again what I am going to do? I reply "I don't know.. but miracles happen." In room, I start a mental inventory of what is in the bag. Clothes, CD's, coffee, and lyrics. House concert is in 4 hours... I start preparing a set list of songs I think I know by heart. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, my bag ends up left in the rental car parking lot and is being inspected by police! The police take it to the US Airways Lost Baggage Department. US Airways Baggage Lady ("Dottie") examines bag's contents. Meanwhile, back in my room..I get a call from my pastor friend in Frisco who tells me he got a call from the airport and gives me a phone number. I call Dottie (US Airways Baggage Lady) and discover that Dottie had seen my CD's, was curious, and checked out my website, and called the number listed for my next gig. I go to the hotel lobby to ask about a ride back to the airport. Leaving in ten minutes. But, he (the driver) cannot wait at curb while I investigate and retrieve. En route to airport, I call Dottie and ask if she can meet us curbside with the bag. She's doubtful. It's a giant airport and she's off at 4:00 P.M. I promise her a free CD...she specifies that "it has to be a good"! In the middle of an animated conversation with "Pedro", the shuttle driver #2 about the futility of immigration reform. I call Dottie on approach. Within 5 seconds of pulling up to curb, Dottie rounds the corner with my bag. I almost hugged her, but thought better of it, so I simply signed the paperwork she had ready, gave her her a "FAITH" CD and hopped back into shuttle in time to beat the monster traffic and make it back to the hotel. Plenty of time to make coffee and redesign set list. Miracles happen.... and cell phones and websites and free CD's are mighty handy..... (!) Thank You Leslie, Security dude, Rev. Philip, Dottie, and Pedro".

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David's one of the most positive and funny guys I've met. His story has been featured on "60 Minutes" and it will move you at: http://www.davidmbailey.com/. And by the way, if you catch David in concert, tell him afterwards that I said "Hello". ;-)