Under the Bed Chronicles Mission Control A Morning in the Control Tower

Under the Bed Chronicles

Mission Control

A Morning in the Control Tower

Mission Control doesn’t have a to-do list.

It has a list of things that were on fire five minutes ago, things currently on fire, and things that haven’t caught fire yet but are looking suspicious.

People often ask me what I actually do all day.

“I mean…you own a cleaning company, right?”

That’s adorable.

According to Simon, Director of Operations, we don’t run a cleaning company.

We run an air traffic control tower.

Actually…

A control tower and the radar room.

The tower manages the airplanes already in the pattern.

The radar room is watching the ones you haven’t seen yet.

Around here the airplanes are vacation rentals, residential clients, employees, plumbers, propane deliveries, furniture trucks, hot tubs, lost iPads, king sheets, and approximately 7,000 text messages.

The funny part?

I probably inherited some of this.

My dad spent his career as an air traffic controller.

Apparently I just traded airplanes for vacation rentals.

Instead of asking,

“Who’s on final?”

I ask,

“Who’s checking out?”

Instead of,

“Who’s low on fuel?”

It’s,

“Who’s low on king sheets?”

Different runway.

Same chaos.

0103 Hours

Text.

“My dog is really sick. I don’t think I can work tomorrow.”

Mission Control replies immediately.

“No problem. Take care of your dog.”

Life happens.

We’ll make it work.

Flight plan adjusted.

Crew reassigned.

Simon quietly opens a bag of popcorn.

0715 Hours

Another employee has a family issue that changes today’s schedule.

Mission Control adjusts another runway.

“No problem. We’ll make it work.”

Because that’s what teams do.

Scout quietly writes something in his notebook.

Simon leans over.

“What’d you write?”

Scout replies…

“Tuesday.”

0724 Hours

Owner Number One calls.

“This’ll only take a minute…”

Scout doesn’t even look up.

He writes in his notebook.

+30 Minutes

Simon laughs.

“You didn’t even hear the question.”

Scout closes the notebook.

“I’ve heard the opening.”

The conversation turns into backup linens.

Why mattress protectors matter.

How many towels.

How many comforters.

What should stay in the owner closet.

How much inventory is enough.

Mission Control explains that replacing a mattress is considerably more expensive than buying another mattress pad.

0740 Hours

Another owner.

“My guests would like to check in early.”

WHOOOOOOT!

Simon blows his STOP whistle.

“Negative, Flight 214.

Runway occupied.

Please remain in the holding pattern until housekeeping clears the approach.”

Scout writes another note.

Attempted landing on occupied runway.

0743 Hours

Another owner.

“I’ve got an anniversary card I’d like left on the kitchen counter.”

Affirmative.

0745 Hours

“I’ve got furniture being delivered.”

Affirmative.

0746 Hours

“Can you grab propane?”

Affirmative.

0747 Hours

“Can you check whether they left an iPad?”

Affirmative.

0748 Hours

“Can you mail it?”

Affirmative.

By now Simon notices something.

Every transmission starts exactly the same way.

“Can you just…”

Scout quietly underlines something in his notebook.

There is no “just.”

0755 Hours

“The key doesn’t work.”

Mission Control investigates.

Turns out…

The owner installed a brand-new lock.

Changed the code.

Forgot to tell the cleaning company.

Scout writes…

Runway relocated without notifying Air Traffic Control.

0802 Hours

One property reports a sewage issue.

Plumbers have entered the airspace.

Mission Control begins rerouting traffic.

0808 Hours

The city decides today is the perfect day to shut the water off to the laundromat.

For two days.

Several vacation rentals are already running low on linens.

Guests are checking out.

Guests are checking in.

The washing machines have officially become decorative furniture.

Mission Control begins calculating whether king sheets can somehow be generated through optimism.

Results remain inconclusive.

0815 Hours

Charlene reaches for her sixth sticky note.

Scout clears his throat.

“Do we really need another sticky note?”

“…”

“You could put it in the program.”

Sticky note acquired anyway.

Scout quietly updates his notebook.

Sticky Notes: 6

Digital Compliance: Pending.

0820 Hours

Everything stops.

Not because things are calm.

Because Mission Control has to check the radar.

Every reservation.

Every calendar.

Every owner block.

Every same-day arrival.

Every departure.

Every schedule.

Because while today’s airplanes are landing…

Tomorrow’s airplanes are already entering the airspace.

This…

Ladies and gentlemen…

…is why Scout joined Mission Control.

Scout isn’t another dispatcher.

Scout is Radar.

While Mission Control is busy talking airplanes safely onto the runway…

Scout is watching the entire sky.

Making sure nothing sneaks in unnoticed.

Making sure two airplanes don’t try to occupy the same runway.

And occasionally reminding Charlene…

“We’re not starting another sticky note.”

Somewhere in all of this…

Brake pads need replaced.

A hot tub needs checked.

Supplies need ordered.

A propane tank needs filled.

Someone forgot an iPad.

Someone wants an anniversary card.

Someone needs backup king sheets.

Someone has a sewage problem.

Someone changed a lock.

Someone’s guests want to arrive early.

Someone else’s guests want to leave late.

WHOOOOOOT!

Simon blows the whistle again.

“Negative.

Departure traffic has priority.”

Mission Control keeps talking.

Scout keeps watching radar.

The Can-Do Crew keeps cleaning.

Guests arrive.

Owners smile.

Five-star reviews appear.

Nobody sees the control tower.

Which means…

Mission accomplished.

Simon finishes the popcorn.

Looks around.

Gets up.

Returns with marshmallows.

Chocolate.

Graham crackers.

And a miniature Solo Stove.

Scout looks over.

“We’re making s’mores now?”

Simon shrugs.

“This isn’t ending before lunch.”

Scout nods.

Fair point.

Then Charlene’s phone buzzes again.

She sighs.

Reads the message.

“Can you just…”

Simon quietly reaches for another marshmallow.

Scout writes one final note in today’s log.

Estimated conversation time: +30 minutes.

He doesn’t even need to hear the question anymore.

Experience is funny like that.