When 5 seconds makes all the difference

Really, just five little seconds?

Let’s see, here’s where 5 seconds doesn’t make much difference:

When on an around-the-world sailing race,
If you’re stuck in traffic on the way to work,
During the film when you’re lost in the scene and time doesn’t even seem to be moving.

All the time in the world, right? Who cares about a measly little five seconds?

Let’s look at a few scenarios where it does matter:

When the space shuttle is connecting to the lunar landing module and it has to match up exactly for a successful mission,
Those times in a car race when the leader is five seconds ahead of you–and remains five seconds ahead for the entire last lap.
When your Toastmasters speech hits the maximum 7 minutes and 30 seconds and you go on for another 5 seconds.

If you’re a friend of Pass the Sour Cream, you might recall that I haven’t flown too many space shuttle missions and the only car I have tops out around 130 km/h.

I’m trying not to dwell on What Might Have Been. Or how about a little 20/20 Hindsight?

I was disqualified for my speech last night (and thus disqualified for the competition and out of the running for future competition rounds) because I went 5 seconds over.

I know what you’re saying (because I’m saying it too):