A dream comes true, well, at least part of it. There are some days that I wish I can buy a one way ticket to a warm location and not look back. I proably want this about 2-3 times a month.
Tomorrow, I leave for vacation - Miami - to visit S. I can't wait. I am not looking back. I am not thinking of work. I am not thinking of how many emails will be waiting me. I am not thinking that I am traveling every week until mid-May. I am not thinking of anything, but that I will be gone for 5 days with S. My suitcase is filled with shorts, skirts, jeans, tops, sunglasses and swimsuits. Not one closed toe shoe, pair of heels or anything resembling a suit! It is true freedom!!!
One day, I will buy a one way ticket to a paradise!
Well, there is a first for everything in one's life and for me, this past week, was the first time I ran out of gas. I not only ran out of gas, but I ran out of gas in downtown New Orleans on the way to an important client meeting. (Jeanette, every time I come to NO, my evenings are so full that I have not been able to call you yet!!)
But, as we all know, there is a warning that we are close to empty. I saw it the day before, driving to the airport to pick up a coleague and then forgot. I then saw it later that night, driving to a client event, but we hit traffic and I decided to get it on the way back. But, I did not drive back to the hotel, so I forgot.
Well, that morning, I woke up and realized that I probably had enough gas to get to the gas station. I left the hotel early, asked the valet parking attendent to the closest gas station, turned left out of the hotel and ran out of gas 20 feet away!!
Thankfully, I thought, I had AAA, but that proved to be more of a hassel then it was worth. I was put on hold twice and they dropped my line by accident. I realized that by the time I got through again and they called someone, it woudl be an hour. My meeting was in 45 minutes. I then walked back to the valet attendent to see if they had gas tank or if they could call me a cab. They were not too willing to help me, as I probably looked like the dumb blonde that ran out gas.
So, I decided to hail a cab and plead that he would help me in return of a good tip. He was very kind natured and helped me get gas, so I was on my way to my meeting.
All I can do is laugh about the whole situation because there is a first for everyting.
As sad as this sounds, this is the question that I have been asking every morning. I not only do not know what day it is, but I am wondering where am every time I wake up. I have been on the road for over a week now. It all starts blending together. So far, I have been in Phoenix, AR; Huntsville, AL; Mobile, AL and Baton Rogue, LA. Tommorow and Thursday, I am in New Orleans, LA; then, I am home sweet home!!!!
As crazy as my life may seem, it almost has been the best thing for me. I am learning to slow down, to stop looking at my blackberry every time there is a new email; I have learned to focus on what is important and what is not. So, in that sense, it is good.
By the way, what is so wonderful about Airborne? I have literally walked into every RiteAid, Walgreens or CVS that I have seen in the last few days. NO ONE has it. Every where I turn, people are talking about this being the new item to have, especially if you travel. Has anyone taken it? Does it really work?
I tend to be a very private person with my personal life, and this has become more so over the past few years. I can probably come up with many reasons why, but it all boils down to that I really don't like everyone knowing all that is going on in my life. I just don't; I can't handle it and I like knowing that only a handful of people know what is going on.
However, something drastic happened in my family last week -- my grandmother died -- my mom and I flew out to see her before she did. And we did see her one day before she died. It was a hard weekend, full of difficult decisions and then dealing with the emotions when she died.
I can't even tell people that she died, but I am telling who ever reads my blog. Maybe it is because I don't know most of you and most of you don't know me. Only four people knew that I left to try to see her before she died - two were work people and two were best friends. And, I only told two more people after she did die. After that, it just stopped there; it has eventually spread by word of mouth to others.
It has been one week since she has passed. I am still trying to just soak all of the emotions and make sense of everything.