Tardiness is frowned upon, yet occasionally it’s unavoidable. Good News Wants to Know… what’s the most unbelievable yet true excuse you have ever had for being late?

It was the groom, the best man, and me (another member of the wedding party) in a car going over the Throgs Neck Bridge on our way from The Bronx to the wedding location in Long Island. We left on time but that didn’t matter. We were a one third of the way over the bridge when there was a massive multi-car collision. There were no casualties but plenty of damage. Luckily to other cars but not ours. It took three and a half hours to clear the way for traffic. By the time we reached the  wedding location, we were over four hours late. No problem though – everyone celebrated before the wedding, so when we got there everyone was REALLY HAPPY!!!

Steve Solomon, CBMC, Area Director, CBMC South Florida

The to-be-joyous occasion was my brother’s wedding for which I was the best man. As I jumped out of the car wanting to be on time and thrust my arms into the rented tux jacket, I learned that they failed to sew the hems which shortened the sleeves. It was a delaying, not pretty scene with the four inch too long sleeves and strings hanging out which took up precious time to try to fix, making me late. 
William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law

Punctuality is important to me. I can’t recall being late to anything of consequence. That’s the most unbelievable but true answer I can offer!

Brian Mudd, Program Director, Host of The Brian Mudd Show, iHeartMedia

A few days after I very proudly received my Driver’s License, I ran into a hearse. It was a hearse with cargo. I remember being late to dinner that night but had a pretty good story about the dangers of checking your beeper, hydroplaning and coffins.

Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting

One day when I was heading out the door to catch a flight to Tallahassee, there was a neighbor running down the street screaming a name at the top of her lungs. Although I was in a rush to make the flight, I wanted to make sure that she was OK. I ran down the street to see what was going on, and she was distraught because her new puppy ran away. After an hour of chasing the little guy around, we captured him and got him home safely. Unfortunately, I missed my flight and had to drive to Tallahassee. The drive gave me time to think about that little puppy being safe, and I thought about our own new pup.

Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 100

My wife is so understanding! More than once, unfortunately, I’ve been late for dinner, movies, date night, etc. Fortunately, “Sorry, the President’s speech ran over” was always excusable for her! What an angel.

Christopher C. Simpson, President & CEO, CBMC International

Before 9-11, my father and I were traveling together, and we were already somewhat tardy to get on the plane to fly out of Fort Lauderdale. We had made it all the way inside the terminal when he said to me, “Son, I have to go back to the car.” 

I protested that we were already in danger of missing our flight, but I asked him why.

“I’m packing,” he said.  We both walked out of the terminal, knowing that if we went all the way back to the car, we would miss our flight. We found a planter outside the terminal, he stashed his gun inside it, and we made our way back inside. Luckily, we caught our plane.  Surprisingly, he retrieved his gun from the planter when we returned to Fort Lauderdale several days later. 

That was the wildlife with my DAD.

H. Collins Forman, PA

I was literally a day late. It was Madelyn’s first trip outside the country. I had an open week in the middle of a long business trip. After arranging for my mom to watch our son, I flew Madelyn to meet me in Paris. While she was in the air (no internet back then), I received a call that required me to fly out to a client immediately. With no way to communicate with Madelyn, I asked our local rep in Paris to meet her at the airport, explain what happened and get her safely to our hotel. One problem, they had never met. He held a sign with our company name on it and waited for her after immigration. Fortunately, they connected, and she made it to the hotel. I did make it back to Paris late the following day.

Craig D. Huston, Summit Achievers

I couldn’t make the meeting because I was in labor with each of my children. In both cases, I worked until I went into labor (my research laboratory was located within an academic medical center), walked myself up to labor and delivery, then called my husband to join me.

Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, University President and Professor of Health Sciences, Palm Beach Atlantic University

My dad used to say that if you are on time, you’re late! When I was in my twenties, my car broke down on I-95 on my way to work, hurling me off into a deep ditch. A man pulled over to help me. I don’t remember if he had a satellite phone or a CB in his car. He waited with me until help came, and as I had minor injuries, he also called the hospital to check on me a couple of hours later and sent me flowers to my work address on the business card I gave him some days later. As a baseball fan, I realized very quickly who he was (and so did the cop and paramedics) – Joe DiMaggio! He later moved to South Florida, and I got to see him a couple of times after that. 

Dolores King-St. George, President, GraceNetRadio.com and King Management Group

On my way to an Emmaus Saturday night event, I was in a little bit of a hurry when my SUV hydroplaned and did two 360s, stopping in a medium of I-95 about 100 feet from a culvert! When I did get there, I was shaking so bad that I really didn’t accomplish much that night! It was a God take the wheel moment!

Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and HOPE South Florida

“I’d rather be fifteen minutes early rather than five minutes late! Getting ready to go to my office meeting, in the middle of taking a shower, our water was shut off!! Hair full of shampoo, I was a little crazy and laughing at the same time! Water company had no answers. Fortunately, it was turned back on in about a half hour and I was late!! “

Helen Wayner P.A., Century 21 Hansen Realty

I don’t have a good example of this one. There was a time, however, when I showed up to photograph an event a week early. Lol

Justus Martin, Justus Martin Photo

Embarrassed to confess I got a pretty hefty speeding ticket on I-95 and was late to a meeting.

Karen Granger, Director of Community Relations, 4KIDS Palm Beach

I was late because I was fan-girling over #54 Zach Thomas, who I met over lattes at Starbucks. Fins Up!

Laura C. Bishop, Executive Vice President of Advancement, Palm Beach Atlantic University

One of the most unbelievable, yet true excuses someone has given me for being late is that there were cows on the road in Boynton Beach.  I thought it was ridiculous, until I heard that night on the news that cows were actually blocking the road.  So of course, I had to apologize.  

Mary Drabik, President, South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary

When I was young, my folks had a rule that we kids had to be home by dark. One evening I was almost home when I realized I had left my jacket at the local park. I was right by my friend’s house so I went there to see if I could borrow his bike to go retrieve my jacket and still get home on time. Unfortunately, only his little sister was home. I told her I was going to borrow the bike and bring it right back. However, she told her parents, who were also my parents’ closest friends, that I had stolen the bike. By the time I got back, both sets of parents were there waiting and not happy with me. Not only was I late, but apparently, I was also a thief!  It all worked out in the end, but my only excuse was “I forgot my jacket.”

Mike McDermott, PA, SRES, Seniors Real Estate Specialist

This one’s easy: the first date with my now husband.  To “kickstart” our relationship, I suggested we go to this very nice Italian restaurant that featured opera singers (husband “Opera singers?!). Since it was Sunday, I dropped into a church service as I didn’t want to miss church.  I had never been there before and, while the place initially was empty, it wasn’t long before people started pouring in – the church was having a special celebration. Concerned that the traffic at the end of the service would delay my departure, I snuck out early. My concern was unwarranted – I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.  My car was blocked in on all sides. Even worse, no one was coming out.  Frantic, I searched for a phone to call (pre-cellphone era) – no phone to be found.  Finally, little by little, the people began to leave.  By the time I could get my car out, I was already an hour late.  When I finally arrived, he had already changed into his workout clothes thinking I had forgotten about the date (and secretly hoping he would be able to dodge the opera singers).  Wrong. I convinced him to change and still go. We had a great time that evening and the rest is history – we got married.

Oksana Horton, Artistic Director, Torch and Trumpet Theatre Company

I am rarely late. A pastor once told us, being late indicates you don’t care. Although I try hard to always leave extra time for all the variables, I occasionally have been thwarted. Once, when my children were young, I had to run back to school for forgotten gym clothes only to find out they had forgotten their homework, so I ran back home again. Of course, I ended up being over an hour late for work. Taught me to ask more questions before leaving the house.

Patricia Colangelo, Professor, Trinity International University-Florida

Back in the 80s when I worked on Fort Lauderdale Beach, the most common excuse for employees being late was “the bridge was up.” I don’t know how unbelievable it was, I’m not even sure how true it was… But I positively know it was OVER-USED!!!

Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder/President, SAINTS International Sports Ministry and SAINTS Homeschool P.E.

I like to forget those experiences!

Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partners, Rogers, Morris & Ziegler, LLP

I like to think of myself as a very punctual person even with 4 young children, but the most unbelievable yet true excuse I have ever had for being late is when we ended up being late for one of our own children’s birthday parties. You may have heard of the “my dog ate my homework” excuse, we were getting in the car with the cake to go to the party when our dog knocked over the cake and we had to go get another one made. Fortunately, they were able to make one quickly for us and the party went on. This is one reason why I try to stick to the old motto, if you are on time, you are late. 

Steve Daigle, Campus Pastor, Calvary Chapel Parkland

“The dog ate my homework” has been termed as a poor excuse for tardiness, and as a former K-12 teacher/administrator, I heard this expression used by my students more than once. However, I had to use this same excuse while completing an assignment for one of the courses in my last degree. Before class, to my horror our new puppy had ripped (and eaten) my hand-written notes/assignment. I do think my professor believed me when I produced the ragged remains.

Susie M. Cohen, PhD, Associate Dean, Trinity International University – Florida

I was heading to a speaking engagement in Miami. My GPS was not working well. I took the wrong exit and headed West off I-95. Who knew you couldn’t make a U-turn for many miles? And then, I called my hubby (who is a great navigator). He took me through several neighborhoods. While I was at a 4-way stop, a woman approached my car, ranting and raving.  She was not well. I scurried off. Then, I had a woman literally almost run me off the road. My host kept calling, and I kept saying that I was only a few miles away..:) When I got there, the talk was almost over. When I shared what had happened, the teens couldn’t stop laughing. But, she was not happy. Thankfully, I was able to continue our relationship. My takeaway: When travelling to Miami, leave two hours early.;) You never know what you might encounter.

Tewannah Aman, Executive Director, Broward Right To Life

Read last month’s GNWTK at: https://www.goodnewsfl.org/what-is-your-favorite-simple-pleasure/