Arrived at the Atlanta airport on Thursday, March 30th with every intention on catching a flight to Denver, CO on a buddy pass. I arrived at the airport at 4:15 PM and left the ATL airport at 10:30 PM and returned to my home. All flights were full and I was left behind. Yes, I was a little disappointed, but not discouraged.
Saturday, April 1st arrived at Atlanta airport at 6:00 AM with every intention and desire to catch a flight to Denver, CO on a buddy pass. All flights were full up to 2:00 PM, but I was still hopeful and met someone. We spent the next four hours chatting. It was a very nice meeting and certainly a G-d thing!
At 6:05 PM the flight leaving for Denver, CO as well as the remaining flights until 9:45 PM were full, and again, I was left behind. Yes, a little disappointed, but not discouraged. I called Uber and had a very nice driver. I sat in the front, and we chatted and exchanged cell numbers. It was very pleasant. Secretly, I was a little nervous, because it was my first Uber ride. But, G-d, as always has a way of showing me who is truly in control.
All flights were booked, and only my luggage had a spring break in Denver. So, even though I had every intention and desire to fly out on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, I decided to have my bags flown back to Atlanta on Monday.
On Monday, April 3rd, my mom and I drove to the airport to pick up my bags. Again, on Monday the 3rd I was looking forward to flying to Denver, and a great friend of mine was going to drive me to the airport at 5:00 AM on Tuesday, April 4th.
Monday evening, I received a text that all flights were booked, and there was little chance I would get to Denver on a buddy pass for the rest of the week. So, I decided to look for a ticket, for the remaining time I would have in Denver. However, for the amount of the fare, it just did not seem practical for just three days. So, with a positive attitude, I realized that this Spring Break of 2017, Denver would not be graced with my presence. Yet, all was/is not lost.
Many positives came out of this experience as well as some lessons.
Lesson One – forget a buddy pass especially during a high-flying season. Buy a ticket!
Lesson Two – focus on the positives and look for all the blessings in the midst of what could be very frustrating. (Yet again, a little sad, but never irate or discouraged.) I was determined to be led by G-d, and to focus on where He was leading. I can’t claim to be led by G-d, and then scream at Him when things look opposite of what I desire. Easy? What do you think? I digress…some encouraging things I realized.
Positives:
- Ride to the airport – Thursday afternoon (friend from work)
- Picked up from the airport at 10:30 PM during a horrible thunder storm (son)
- Taken back to the airport the next day at 5:15 AM (son) – I live about 45 minutes away from the airport without traffic and bad weather.
- Picked up from the airport at 10:30 PM (Very nice Uber driver)
- Met someone at the airport and spent 4 hours together, exchanged information, promised to stay in-touch.
- Helped by someone else who lives in Denver when I got confused about travel gate
- Chatted with a very nice person as we waited for the next flight
- Saw a co-worker in the women’s restroom on her way to Florida
- Full refund on my buddy pass
- All luggage returned from Denver with excellent customer service
- Nice outing with my mom when we went to pick up my luggage and glorious weather
- Safety
- Family/friends checking on me to make sure I was fine
My point, I am going to Colorado, but apparently, this spring break was not the appointed time. So, for the rest of my stay-vacation, fun and rest was on the menu.
And, fun and rest it was!
#DocsMusings!
Dr. Dee