Today I will finally make it to San Francisco and Wine Country, a trip that my team's hard work qualified me for back last fall but I was unable to make until now. I am sure I'll make it...but there have been a few stumbles along the way.
A bleary-eyed missed exit to the airport at 5:20am made for a 5:31 arrival time at baggage claim- 2 minutes late (the "baggage truck" left ticket check-in at 5:30am) for a plane scheduled to leave at 6am. So...Flight changed to SanFran by way of Philadelphia for a 10am departure.
@9:50am the plane to Philly was determined to have landing gear problem, so I was bustled back to a Charlotte connection to San Fran leaving the runway in two minutes! Race to plane and arrived Charlotte at 12 and the next Calif plane leaves at 625 pm!
I finally settled into the trip west when we hit major turbulance and the Captain proclaims, "Once we pass Nashville in twenty or so minutes, we'll have smooth sailing"! Isn't that what I have been trying to do since 5:00 this morning- pass Nashville?!!
I'll arrive after the "Grape stomping" contest and a yummy fattening "Welcome Reception Dinner" at The Mission Inn in Sonoma, but it's all good. I have met some fascinating people along the way.
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There is Chris: 30-something film producer of a well known teen TV show and best friend of a child star. I watched over his baggaage; he charged my ipad while we solved the problems of "fame crazed youth and lack of parenting" over a bowl of oatmeal. He looks 22 himself but wise way beyond his years by a very hard life nursing his mom through cancer as a teen. The man has a heart of gold and is determined to be a great Father for his son. We exchange information and I will keep up with his success.
Chris introduced me to a beautiful pediatric dentist (on the phone) who, through her work and considerable notoriety for having turned down being the first Black woman on another hit TV show, does charity surgical dental work for "at risk" youth to increase their health and self esteem by lifting them up through her mentorship program. She has aspirations for a global outreach, and I am sure I'll see those dreams come to pass. I plan to be a part of that goal.
Next is the flight attendant, Rachael, who was a 4th grade teacher until her flight attendant daughter had a baby and quit flying. When the family frequent flyer miles stopped, Rachel became the attendant to fund her constant yearning for adventure. She is training for an "ironman" competition in Europe this summer and power walks the airport at lunch. The FAA won't let her run in the airport or I'd never have been able to keep up!
All this before the next -hopefully last- leg to San Francisco!
The Flight leaves in two more hours, my cell battery is very low, so no phone or 'net. Nothing to do but open my eyes to see who else is fascinating. And, what a blessing to have been forced to slow down, notice fascinating people around me who are leading lives of substance, and see the heart behind the bustle.
Missed planes and dinners won't matter tomorrow. And, God laughs at my plans!
A bleary-eyed missed exit to the airport at 5:20am made for a 5:31 arrival time at baggage claim- 2 minutes late (the "baggage truck" left ticket check-in at 5:30am) for a plane scheduled to leave at 6am. So...Flight changed to SanFran by way of Philadelphia for a 10am departure.
@9:50am the plane to Philly was determined to have landing gear problem, so I was bustled back to a Charlotte connection to San Fran leaving the runway in two minutes! Race to plane and arrived Charlotte at 12 and the next Calif plane leaves at 625 pm!
I finally settled into the trip west when we hit major turbulance and the Captain proclaims, "Once we pass Nashville in twenty or so minutes, we'll have smooth sailing"! Isn't that what I have been trying to do since 5:00 this morning- pass Nashville?!!
I'll arrive after the "Grape stomping" contest and a yummy fattening "Welcome Reception Dinner" at The Mission Inn in Sonoma, but it's all good. I have met some fascinating people along the way.
-
There is Chris: 30-something film producer of a well known teen TV show and best friend of a child star. I watched over his baggaage; he charged my ipad while we solved the problems of "fame crazed youth and lack of parenting" over a bowl of oatmeal. He looks 22 himself but wise way beyond his years by a very hard life nursing his mom through cancer as a teen. The man has a heart of gold and is determined to be a great Father for his son. We exchange information and I will keep up with his success.
Chris introduced me to a beautiful pediatric dentist (on the phone) who, through her work and considerable notoriety for having turned down being the first Black woman on another hit TV show, does charity surgical dental work for "at risk" youth to increase their health and self esteem by lifting them up through her mentorship program. She has aspirations for a global outreach, and I am sure I'll see those dreams come to pass. I plan to be a part of that goal.
Next is the flight attendant, Rachael, who was a 4th grade teacher until her flight attendant daughter had a baby and quit flying. When the family frequent flyer miles stopped, Rachel became the attendant to fund her constant yearning for adventure. She is training for an "ironman" competition in Europe this summer and power walks the airport at lunch. The FAA won't let her run in the airport or I'd never have been able to keep up!
All this before the next -hopefully last- leg to San Francisco!
The Flight leaves in two more hours, my cell battery is very low, so no phone or 'net. Nothing to do but open my eyes to see who else is fascinating. And, what a blessing to have been forced to slow down, notice fascinating people around me who are leading lives of substance, and see the heart behind the bustle.
Missed planes and dinners won't matter tomorrow. And, God laughs at my plans!