2000
I was attending the Usenix Annual Technical Conference when I received a phone call from Peter passing on the news that Barry had passed away in his sleep. Naturally I would return for the funeral, but that was something of a logistical exercise.
I was in San Diego, my passport and appropriate clothes were in Seattle. And flights from Australia left from Los Angeles, just a little ways up the road from San Diego. As most flights leave in the evening, and Peter called at about 6PM, there was no way that I could leave this night. A few phone calls and I changed my return flight to Seattle for the next morning, and had a flight from Seattle that evening to Los Angeles with a connection to Australia.
On the flight to Seattle I was working out timing, and it was going to be tight. Using the shuttle was out of the question, as I had not minutes to spare. SO, I hired a car for some hours. Not cheap, but about the only solution that would work.
Apart from changing packed clothes - from summer techie conference to winter funeral - I also let the neighbours know and ask them to take care of the house while I was gone. The Deals came through with flying colours. How wonderful it is to have good neighbours.
I made the flight from Seattle, and was on my way.