Wow, what a whirlwind these past few days have been. Day oneand day two have pasted and it’s almost surreal standing in this apartment,buying food, and washing my own dishes. Speaking of dishes you will not believethe steal of a deal I got a Goodwill today! Their policy goes that any unmarkeditem is $.50. Yup that’s right fitty cents baby! And surprisingly they had awonderful selection of dishes. With help, I found these lovely white plates andbowls for yes, that’s right, 50 cents apiece!! Much like this find, thingsseems to be falling into place like clockwork. I was loaned a bed and my back is on cloudnine! I also found a rockin’ coffee table for $5 at again, Goodwill. Sure seemslike something or more likely some One has been helping me out! I have been soblessed and it’s been fun to just soak it in. Mmmm. I am so unworthy. I wrote in my journaltonight, “You plan beautiful things for me Lord and I am so undeserving ofYour love and attention. Thank you for this time to just be.” Simple. To “justbe.” To live life, breathe air. You know, smell the roses, sing in the car atthe top of your lungs, to breathe in, to breathe out, to smile, laugh, love,enjoy, joy, delight. To delight inthe beautiful. The true beauty left all around for us to see and savor. Oh howmarvelous!
Nowwith all that said, I should preface this by saying that I wouldn’t say thatall things have gone on without a hitch. There have been plenty of “please tellme I’m on candid camera and this isn’t actually happening” moments. Let’s startat the beginning.
Sundaymorning, 5am Sunday morning to be exact, I arrived at the airport. Wait, backup, first, Saturday evening I sat surveying the scene. Mounds of clothing, Christmaspresents, clean laundry, and one very small suitcase lay in front of me. Themission: Get everything in the bag. The goal: Save $25 bucks. The level ofdifficulty: piece of red velvet cake. Real level of difficulty: relativelyimpossible!
Afterdeep concentration but mostly folding, pounding, bouncy, sitting, and squishing,I stood victorious over the fully stuffed and perfectly zipped suitcase. Ipacked that baby like a stuffed turkey! I gave it one more go just for goodmeasure, sat on top with all the force I could muster and wished her good luck.Now fast forward. Five o’clock in the AM,there I stand, the hopeful suitcase in toe, and a not so hopeful airportattendant. He asked me to check my bag in the lovely bag checker to see if itwould fit. The line behind me quickly turned into more of a group gathering, perhapseven more of a crowd looking on with both eager expectation and annoyance. I whispered, “Okay show time, suck it inlittle guy” to the suitcase and smiled wide. If all else failed maybe a kindsmile would warm the… Mid smile and midpush he took one look at my bag trying to shimmy into the holder and said, “Toobig, no pushing, no pushing, too big. Take something from your bag and put init your carry on.”
Ahh, the carry on. See this would have been abrilliant idea IF the carry on hadn’t be as thoroughly stuffed if not morestuffed than the suitcase. I did my best to smile, mentally waved to thewatching audience, and walked straight to the bath room. I was about to make amiracle happen. The coliseum erected aftermy victorious moment the night before slowly crumbled. Now, in the bath room Iunzipped both bags and glanced back and forth from one to the other. Across theroom I could see a traveler shaking her head as she eyed the prospect of any significantmovement. There was really only one option. Layering. So I layered. I put on asmany coats as could fit and walked back a heavier woman and a lighter suitcase.This time I was granted access. Mission accomplished. Had there of not been apublic present I just might have done some fist pumps and arm extended spins tothe tune of “We are the champions,” flipped up each of my collars and shouted, “Ahhson!” Sweet victory. Btw. They made me check the bag at the gate. Hahaha morestories to come!
-j
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