Surviving bad travel karma

The last day has been... interesting.

Let's start with Seattle.  I was booked on American (I know, I always do Alaska or Delta.  Now I know why?).  I was ready to depart for my adventure at 11 a.m. when we learned there were plane problems. Everyone was booted from 11 am until a flight at 8 pm, which would have really affected my short vacation. So I asked to be put on another plane, and they switched me to Alaska, leaving at 1:45. 

That's when the fun began.  American made the arrangements and told me to go to Alaska (two terminals/subway away) to make sure it was all arranged.  I got there and no dice.  Alaska told me to go back and tell American it had not worked.  Two iterations followed, lots of walking and subway before I finally got it all squared away, after a lot of waiting in lines (I had to go to the back every time), lots of tense people, lots of tempers.  But I did it. I got on the Alaska flight.  But I decided to just go to Phoenix (intead of Flagstaff) so I would be closer to my vacation plans and take a rental car from there. So.... apparentlyl this was a bad move.  I got to Phoenix, but my bag didn't.  

By this point, I was pretty exhausted and at wit's end. The folks at Alaska were, as always, quite wonderful. I hit a Target so I had a couple of things to wear, got the last rental car and then drove for three hours on a dark twisty road.  I mean, really dark and twisty.  And it was a long drive and I was pretty tense.  But I got to my vacation just before midnight!  And, the host checking me in said, "You don't mind moths, do you?" Apparently they are having an infestation in Holbrook, AZ.  Friends know I am TERRIFIED of moths.  So at that point, I just burst out laughing.

                          This is the TeePees in the Petrified Forest

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Did someone not want me to take this trip?

This morning, I decided to start fresh and leave my hotel at 5:30, bound for adventure.  But my tire indicator came on.  So I found a gas station and fixed it, feeling quite proud of myself. I got to the Petrified Forest by 6:15, only to find it doesn't open until 8 a.m.  But I am happy to say, I spent that time hanging out with a shopkeeper and talking about polished rocks, one of my childhood passions.  

So things are looking up.

So.. now it is 24 hours and the bag is still bouncing back and forth somewhere between Flagstaff and Phoenix.  They are hoping to figure it all out so I can pick it up on Monday morning on my way to my conference.  I am definitely missing my hiking boots (thank goodness I was wearing sneakers on the plane), basic stuff, my glasses, etc. But it looks like I will have the bag Monday.

So... crisis is over (almost?). I am trying to find humor as I wash my clothes in the hotel sink and fight frustration. 

And this is where the surviving bad travel karma comes in.  We all have it at some point, right? A missed connection. A lost bag. Too many hours on our feet, surrounded by crabby people who have also spent too many hours on their feet.  How do we find a way to stay positive when your travel gets off on the wrong foot?

Here's one idea:  it's really not tragic.  

Yeah, I miss my suitcase. I miss my clothes and toiletries and the hiking boots and poles I brought for my adventure.  But there are people who NEVER get to travel.  And the people at Alaska were so lovely.  When they handed me the little emergency travel bag, I started crying. Because it was so nice to be with kind people

And I find myself thinking of why people STOP traveling. When people get older, they start having a tough time with setbacks, challenges, frustrations.  But I want to travel... a lot.  So I need to find a wya to deal with it.  I want resilience to be my middle travel name.  .

And the show has gone on!  Today I covered the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert and am now writing to you from the lobby of the glorious El Tovar Hotel, right on the rim of the Grand Canyon!  Seriously.  Looking out at the Grand Canyon was everything I imagined it would be.

And earlier today, I went to one of my places I have always dreamed of visiting! I went to "Standing on a Corner Park" in Winslow, Arizona.  And it was such a fine sight to see! (if you know, you know).  

 

Route 66 is all the rage here in Arizona.  You have placards, museums, baseball caps and lots of nostalgia. Since my sister and I watched WAY too much "Route 66" when we were kids, I gotta say it is pretty cool to jump in on the nostaliga.  Where is George Maharis when you need him?

Another extremely cool thing I have always wanted to visit is the old Studebaker, abandoned near the road and serving as monument to Route 66.  It was pretty cool to see!

Tonight, I was talking to my lovely host here at the El Tovar, telling her my tale of woe about my suitcase.  She said, "Yeah, I lost a suitcase once.  They finally got it back to me two months later."  Nothing like a little perspective.

So.. the shot below is me at sunset net to the Grand Canyon.  I mean, really -- who cares about my suitcase? (well, I would care a bit less if my medicine wasn't in the suitcase, but that's a whole different story.)  Note to self: always have medicine and glasses in the carry-on.

But -- I am here. I am having my adventure.  I will have the suitcase I HOPE by Monday, and then the adventure will continue. 

And my advice to you all for travel?  Be intentional about what you put in your carry-on if you are a luggage checker like me.  Try not to be affected by all the anger. Try to say thanks to the customer service people out there. Try to enjoy and take time to look at the scenery.  Find the beauty.

And breathe.