The Best Layed Plans....

of Musk and Men dept.

I was picking up a few things at Gateway Market last Thursday when I (almost literally) ran into Julie Gammack in the aisle. We’ve both experienced a fairly significant year and I told her “I’ll see you in January, I’m off to California to spend Christmas with my SF Bay area family (daughter Marisha, my son Jaimeo and his 11- and 14-year old daughters in Marin Co.) ”

Cool right?

Well, I’m writing today from my bed in Des Moines with little chance I’ll make it to the left coast in time for Santa’s arrival. Right now, I’m preparing a tasty cocktail of Robitussin and 4-Way decongestant. Fun huh?

Just as fun as the political cocktail Musk/Trump tried to dose us with this past week. I was already at the airport (Thursday 4am) when I started feeling unsettled. You know the feeling when your system starts sending danger signals…and a crowded airport is not designed to make you feel better.

I was aware that Minneapolis (my connecting destination to SFO) was experiencing snowfall (thanks KCCI) but I was gambling on being able to get in and get out to the West Coast before weather-geddon set in.

40 minutes before takeoff however, the announcement came over the intercom that takeoff would be delayed by nearly an hour because of Twin Cities snowfall, increasing by the minute at that point. I really wanted to be with the kids and was willing to “chance it” but at that point, I knew that something approaching common sense had to play into decision making.

I went to the C4 gate desk to inquire if connections could still be made in time with our late takeoff. While waiting in line though, the body chills started so by the time I got to the (very helpful) agent, it was obvious that risking sitting in MPLS airport (or a 5-hour plane ride feeling this way) was not a great option.

“Can I delay my flight for 24 hours?” I asked, hoping against hope that a good nights’ sleep might make everything better. The agent told me that was possible. “Great” I replied, lets do that. So as the sun was rising Thursday morning, I was headed back home, hopeful that in 24 hours I would find myself on a flight ready to see family, friends and no snow.

Unfortunately, conditions (both personal and weather) continued to deteriorate throughout the day forcing my travel agent and I to acknowledge that the best plan was to ‘bank my ticket” and wait until things got better.

They didn’t. Today (Sunday 12/22) is the first day that my temperature dropped below 100.You can also believe that the prospect of the Musk/Trump proposed govt. shutdown played into my decision too. (You mean TSA agents wouldn’t be payed during a shutdown? …that can’t be good)

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No worries my friends, I’ll be fine (three! negative COVID tests confirmed that) and my grandkids are already wanting to ZOOM or iChat with grampa so I’m not feeling lonely. The presents were shipped days ahead and the Democrats saved us from the Musk/Trump Grinch Tour so there ya go.

In my last post I announced a New Year’s Eve event at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin Co. With some luck, I’ll still be there (ticket already in place) and you can join us online.

Despite the artificially-induced political drama, I have much to be grateful for this year. At the top of that list is my gratitude to you, dear reader/listener. It is your attention that spurred the nearly 80 posts to My Integrated Life.

Right now though, time to check my temp, warm up another helping of Paula’s chicken soup and slug another hit of Robi…

Merry Christmas? Merry Christmas!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR <========Link to our New Year’s Eve Celebration.