What's The Hurry...

 

I just returned from a trip to Colorado that I took for a few reasons:
1. My sister Sue told me I should go and she bought me a ticket.
2. My brother Ken had completed a rough chemo treatment and I hadn’t seen him since before that started.
3. My niece was graduating from college and is now a badass nurse.
4. My brother Pat has a new grandbaby and it’s fun to see him in Grandpa mode.

When my plane arrived, Denver weather delayed our approach to the gate. No big deal. I was there. I knew my sister was on the other side of the door. No worries. When I saw her, we hugged, hopped on the shuttle to pick up the rental car, and made it to the hotel. Wind was fierce and after about half an hour of trying to figure out how to open the trunk, a stranger helped and we were on our way to our room before heading out to Ken’s house.

First, he looks GREAT! His hair has grown back and he was smiling and happy. It’s always good to see him and my sister-in-law Rayma. So we gathered round the table for burgers, dogs, and beers while we caught up on our story-tellin’ and remember whens. Back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep so we could head out to Pat’s house for more story tellin’ and remember whens.

When I talk about Pat’s “house” I mean his “compound”. Acres and acres, outbuildings filled with very manly equipment, my niece’s house with their own bunch of heavy gear, horses, a creek, and a lovely view. Because he has a neighbor a mile away, he doesn’t think he lives in the country. Ha!

The next day, my brothers were working so we hit the road with my sister-in-law and niece to Colorado Springs. Another brother recommended a museum to check out so we did that. (If in Colorado Springs, go to the Michael Garman museum. You’ll be glad you did.). Had a lovely late lunch, then hit the road back to Ken’s to yap until we were all tired. Our final day. We headed back to Pat’s to roam around and explore his property, wait for Ken, then grilled burger and brats and continued the story telling. Through this, I may have confirmed my suspicion that my family’s tendency to bend rules to make them fit our needs was passed from our mother who got it from her mother.

When it was time to leave Denver, we knew there would be delays at security check so we arrived very early for my 12:00 flight. Went our separate ways because our planes were at different ends of the airport. My flight was delayed. No problem. I had a book. Then it was delayed again. Then again. No problem. I’ll get there. When I finally got on the plane, I had worried texts from my brothers because 3 tornadoes struck since I got to the airport and they were in storm shelters. My plane took off, got me safely to Atlanta, where I grabbed my bag, made my way to the train. Had to change my route due to time and schedules, but still made it to my home station where I was met and brought home by my kid.

The point of telling you ALL of this is that while I was going through all of the steps to have a lovely, relaxing trip, everyone around me was freaking out. Stressing. Complaining. Worrying. To what end? We’re all here together. All in the same boat. I don’t see how fretting could make any of it better for anyone. In my experience, those people who are telling you there are delays are not responsible for the delays. So be nice. Say thank you. Be grateful that you are safely able to wait it out = whatever “it” may be.

Whether you’re flying across the country, driving to work, or just walking down a hallway, stuff happens. To everyone. Not just to you. Brush it off. Relax. Smile at a stranger. There’s no hurry.