Sometimes you have to take it personally

Some of us still make us of an ancient artifact that is called a “Travel Agent.”  Yeah, I know, there’s an app for that, but I’m a relationship sort of guy.  Just about every week for the past decade I’ve fired off travel requests to my buddy Pam, and she has never let me down.

An app doesn’t know which commercial airline is the best one to use going in and out of Afghanistan.  Pam does. 

An app can’t call in a favor and get me a room at the government rate in downtown Philadelphia, walking distance to the Convention Center, for the annual CSCMP Conference with 48 hour notice.  Pam can.

An app can’t get me rebooked while I stand in a line a quarter of a mile long at the Atlanta airport and everybody’s flight is getting cancelled.  Pam will.

An app can’t adopt stray dogs in need of a home.  Pam has, many times.

I’ve seen a lot of changes in logistics over the past 30 years, and I make a living by understanding all of it, but somehow it seems different when the forces in play take out a friend.

What happened?  Pam's clients live in the land of defense logistics, and these surely are turbulent times.  Was it the sequester?  The shutdown?  The internet?  Or the "realignment" that her company just went through? 

Pam is being laid off today.  Good luck, old friend . . . may we cross paths again.  If you need a reference, send them my way.