Yes. It’s true. I almost threw things at 2am when we found out our flight to Sydney was cancelled. Backdraft from another plane blew an orange barrier into one of our engines. What was estimated to be a four hour delay morphed into not leaving Los Angeles at all.
We cannot flee LA until tomorrow night.
While I will miss much of the Rotary International Convention, I’m grateful for several truths:
I carried my luggage on, so I didn’t have to wait with herds of tired, angry people at 2:30am.
I found a couple of awesome things to do today in LA. More on that tomorrow.
Debra Fetterly of Breathe Lighter and I were going to see each other for an hour on our return, but now we’ll have a whole afternoon.
I wasn’t on a plane that took off with a hobbled engine on a 15 hour flight.
I’m with MTM. Anything, even hellacious things, are fun when we share them with people we love.
Life is about silver linings. They’re everywhere if we look up.
47 Comments
You’re so right on this one. Silver Linings…my life is filled with them and I’m oh so very grateful………….now.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned about life: So much of it is beyond my control. I can only be responsible my reactions. I only answer for my behavior.
Great example of “If You Can’t Change The Facts, You Might As Well Change The Attitude”…..
Yep. Easier in some situations. Harder in others. I slept a few hours, which always helps.
Thanks for the reminder — I know you’ve got a brave public face — hope you and MTM find fun things to make up for the disappointment.
I never cried, which I sometimes cannot help when I’m put into stressful situations while exhausted.
We make choices every day. Choosing to enjoy what is, is most always a good choice.
I’m glad to know so many people who choose to live life that way, Jim.
My wife and I missed her flight one time at LAX. This meant a few more hours together before she went home for a few more months. Togetherness makes times like that so much better
I hear you. That’s a great story, Jon. 🙂
Making ourselves miserable over something we cannot change is a waste of energy. And you know that more than most!
Still, it’s taken me a long time to learn to compartmentalize. MTM gave me a funny analogy yesterday. Men are waffles. Women are spaghetti. Men can put things in little compartments and forget about them, and women roll everything together and can’t separate it emotionally. Sometimes, I manage it, and I’m always proud of those times. 🙂
Wow, I never thought of it like that, great analogy MTM 🙂
Holy crap that is an awesome analogy. B/c i am a big messy bowl of spagetti today.
You have a great attitude. This is one of those things, while annoying, is totally out of your control. Roll with it.
According to MTM, our new flight has a full bar in back of our section. Ha. I might just be rolling, period. 🙂
Drink a Jack n Coke for me Andra
I am glad you made a list of all the good things! It’s not worth the blood pressure going up!
At the end of the day, nothing is worth high blood pressure.
Ha. Be lucky the guy this song is about wasn’t flying with you (er, and it wasn’t 1971):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM04ZwTLIpA
I am glad. VERY glad.
That’s a lot of silver linings. Cannot wait to hear how your meeting with Debra goes 🙂
We had a great time, Kate. I’ve queued up a post about it, and she’ll write one, too.
Way to stay positive, Andra. Life is so much better that way.
Mary, I’ve not always been a positive person. It isn’t always easy for me. But MTM helps me be better.
“I wasn’t on a plane that took off with a hobbled engine on a 15 hour flight.” That reason alone is enough to make for a silver lining. All the other wonderful things are good, but that one. For real. Safe travels, Andra.
Yes, you want all the fault tolerance built into that plane on a 15 hour flight. Technically I believe they could fly it on one or two but that would be no fun over the ocean.
Huh. Really? I didn’t know that. Thx for the info.
I didn’t know that either, James. Still, I’m glad we didn’t have to worry about that.
Oh good! The first thing I said was. “Call Debra!!” & you did (clever you). If you’re finished with your visit; hope you had a great time. If you’ve yet to see her; tell her “V says ‘hi’ !!” such a small & pretty wonderful world.
We had an awesome visit, Virginia. I’m so glad we knew who to call. 🙂
exactly and each delay is an adventure in itself )
We’ve had several adventures in LA, Beth. More coming tomorrow.
Oh, boy! It’s so tough when that happens but we have absolutely no control of these situations and it sounds like you have the perfect attitude about it. 🙂
My attitude has been far from perfect in the past 48 hours, Maria, but we’ve had a great, if unexpected, time in LA.
Not too shabby a result…an extra day having fun in LA rather than being in crippled plane at 30,000 ft….have a good time. Travelling light is such a good move….very sane.
I don’t know how your comment landed in my spam folder, Roger. We’re leaving LA tonight……I hope. 🙂
What a great outlook, Andra. It’s amazing how your attitude can make all the difference in the world, especially in a stressful situation.
MTM is a great example for me. A much, much better person than I am.
I would tell you to stop being so hard on yourself but I’d be a giant hypocrite. I’m just happy for you that you’re in a place where you allow the example to be set for you.
I am impressed as ever that you found the silver lining !
A decade ago, I wouldn’t have. That’s what a decade of marriage to MTM can do. 🙂
I am so happy for you and I loved the analogy!
Well now, should have read this post before commenting on your previous one about you having surely arrived. So sorry for that cancellation – and so jealous of your time with Debra.
I felt so torn, Penny. On one hand, this trip is Andra and MTM’s special anniversary experience, planned for a very long time, and to start with such a delay had to be very disappointing, but I felt so fortunate to have the opportunity for an extended visit! I do wish you could have been there, too. You know I mean that. 🙂
Arrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
But yes, I’m glad you’re with MTM. But arrrrrrrrrggggggghhh.
I should have thought f that when one of our flights over This past Christmas was delayed several hours; instead I lambasted Delta on Twitter, which I’m sure was more childish than anything.
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