Well, I’m finally here at the airport.
As Barb was driving me to the airport tonight I could feel the spirit of all you dear souls, my real and soul families, my loving friends, pushing me gently toward the airport with your good will and prayers. It was a cool feeling.
I feel so supported by you.
Thank you so much.
It was HARD to leave my nest (home) this morning. I could feel a part of me wanting to cling to my home and not leave. Instead I took a deep breath and said goodbye.
As some of you may know…
On Monday night at 10:45pm I emailed my itinerary to Susan. I was feeling pretty proud of myself because I had finished most of my packing and was feeling mostly ready to leave the next day.
A few minutes later Susan called me in a frantic state.
Susan: “Kristin! I have really bad news. You are not going to like it.”
Me: “What?!”
Susan: “Kristin! Your plane is leaving in an hour!”
Me: “What?! Susan stop joking with me. This isn’t funny.”
Susan: Kristin! I’m not joking. Your plane is leaving at 12:05am on Jan. 26-which is in an hour!”
Me: quiet, looking at the calendar
Me: quiet, looking at the clock
Me: quiet
then:
Me: “OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!!!!!”
Me: pacing the kitchen, pacing the living room, quiet
Me (looking at the calendar again and then the clock and then back to the calendar): “You are right, Susan. Oh my God!”
Susan: “I know.”
Me: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Susan: “I know. I’m so sorry to have to tell you that.”
Me: “Susan! I have to go. I have to call the airline so I can reschedule my flight. If I wait any longer I may not be able to reschedule it.”
I frantically call the online travel agency and get a woman on the line who accidentally hangs up on me. I call again. I reach another woman.
Long story short I was able to reschedule my flight to 12:05am on Friday. As I’m rescheduling my flight, Susan has driven over from her house and she comes into my house in her pajamas and overcoat and says, “Kristin! We can make it. You have an hour!”
“Susan, there is no way we can make it.”
And there really wasn’t. But I loved that she drove over to try and get me to the airport. It was incredible. What a friend.
Had Susan not caught my timing mistake here is what would have happened:
Barb would have dropped me off at the airport on Tuesday and I would have found out that I missed my flight long after Barb had driven away. I would have had to pay full fare for another ticket (over $1,000) instead of the $155 fee I had to pay plus $100 to my renter for me to stay the extra time in my home.
Susan is no longer simply ‘Susan’ in my book.
She is Saint Susan.
Or Eagle Eyes.
She saved the day and I’m so grateful!
I had a great couple of days while I got delayed too: I went to Kabuki Hot Springs with Barb, out for Japanese food to keep the Japanese theme going, then to Alicia’s comedy performance (which is about Alicia’s own solo trip to India-it’s hilarious) and then I saw some of you dear souls today.
And now, after all this excitement this week, I’m finally here at the airport.
I’m feeling: a little nervous about the upcoming trip but mostly I’m feeling relieved and happy to be starting my trip after the delay this week.
I’ve got a LONG flight ahead of me: 13 hours to Taipei and then a 3.5 hour layover and then a 5 hour flight to Bali.
But it’s all good.
The journey has begun.
About Me: 
