Turn-around time for absentee ballots

I just learned that the absentee ballot I requested on 10/01 "should" arrive on Saturday the 20th. Of course, if it does not, I won't be able to vote before leaving town on the 22nd. So if I want to be sure I can vote, it looks like I'll have to forget about work on Friday morning and drive to Ravenna, an exercise I was trying to avoid. I'm wondering what kind of turn-around time is reasonable, and why more was not done to inform voters ahead of time what they should expect in this regard.