Act I, Monday: On the light rail to the Seattle-Tacoma airport, I called my ophthalmologist to cancel my Wednesday morning eye appointment. My father in Minneapolis had just had a stroke, so I was heading there, and would not be in town.

Act II, Tuesday: The ophthalmologist's office calls me to reschedule my Wednesday morning eye appointment for next month.

Act III, Wednesday: The ophthalmologist's office calls me to ask “How come you're not at your Wednesday morning eye appointment?” 

See the disconnect?

See the cat? See the cradle?