February 12, 2012
It's hard remembering all I've done in the past 3 days...but remember I must. And share...well, I have to share. I'll be doing this in 3 parts...for easier reading and, well, to give me a place to pause and ask the nice waiter for another sangria or hot tea.
February 10th was basically a non-day. My flight was rerouted to London which made for an incredibly long day.
I arrived in London around noon on Friday the 10th. There was snow on the ground and the air looked cold. There was a part of me that was so excited to see that white fluff that I wanted to run outside and feel the coldness on my fingers...to make a snowball and find a willing playmate for a snowball fight. I refrained.
In London...the moment I entered the "shopping" area I encountered a piece of home. Starbucks was waiting for me...nonfat latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon. How I smiled when I saw that mermaid surrounded by her circle. At this very Starbucks I had the opportunity to do something I haven't been able to do in a long time...write postcards.
What can I say about postcards....as much as I love receiving them I love writing them. Going to the store and buying the images I want...to finding the right story or sentiment to sending to my friends and loved ones...this makes me incredibly happy. Stamping the cards and sending them off...it's an ancient form of communication which brings me as the sender a sensation of hope.
Back on the plane to Madrid...I was praying that my bags will also be on the same plane (with the cancelled flight I was not guaranteed my bags were accompanying me). Funny the times in life where I find religion. Missing bags seemed to be one of those moments. And...G*d didn't let me down. One KISS Army Vixen bag coming down the conveyor belt...then two. BINGO!!! I'm all set for the rest of the adventure. And just as soon as my bags arrived...my faith dissipated.
At arriving at the hotel...I was exhausted. My muscles ached from tens of hours of sitting in my coach seat. For the first time ever, rather than go sightseeing or go to bed, I found a local gym and worked out for the next hour and a half. Seriously, why did I never think of doing this before? Just because I'm on vacation , doesn't mean I should completely abandon taking care of my needs. This was a great lesson.
Upon returning to the hotel, I was hungry. In looking at the menu, a sandwich with fries just did not sound appealing. All I really wanted was a piece of grilled chicken (sorry Carol) and some salad. My waiter immediately said no. Rather than succumb to my waiter, I kept asking for what I wanted until they accommodated my needs. For me, this was a huge lesson. Asking for what you want is important in this life. If I would have asked a few years ago, and would have heard "no", I would have instantly accepted the "no". The fact that I have enough confidence to ask for what I want, and to not automatically accept a "no" to me shows that I have grown up. And that's a great thing.
First night...after a long day...I fell asleep like a baby at midnight and awoke at 2PM the next day. Sleep is amazing...the best thing for my body. This is definitely another lesson...I need to start sleeping in more often.
And this was Friday the 10th.
No comments:
Post a Comment