October 6, 2012
Today my travels take me to a place where the ocean is a sea blue and the scorpions hide from the heat. I’m in beautiful Cabo San Lucas and what a sight to see. A combination of lush greenery, cactus and sand. I’m told that it’s not always this green. A succession of storms graced the area for several days and provided just the right amount of water to add a touch of color to the landscape. When I close my eyes, I can hear the ocean roll against the sand as it breaks. A noise that a Women from Chicago is not accustomed to but can fear and appreciate.
This trip is extra special for me. If I had a bucket list, I would be able to cross one off my list. I experienced the great phenomenon called “The Bungee Jump”. What rush and fear all rolled up in one ball of excitement. I can’t tell you how many feet down the jump was but all I knew I was going to be hanging by my ankle‘s. Bungee jumping has always been a fascinating activity to me. One person crazy enough to throw themselves over a cliff and to just hang freely. Leaving your life in the hands of a rubber rope and the person who set-ups your bungee jump. Most people might think I’m nuts for wanting to do an activity that might cause me to be a “splat” at the end of a cliff. Well, Queen of crazy I guess I’am and was.
I have played out before the scenario of me bungee jumping in my head and wow that was not what happened. I imagined I would be so scared that my fear would paralyze me and I would possibly have the urge to vomit. After maybe throwing up several times I would jump and be great. I would jump in perfect form. My head up, legs together and as I was coming back up I would perform several flips.
Now what really happened. I actually was unusually calm and excited about the jump. I believe what helped me to feel calm was the activity before. I was at a place called “Wild Canyon” with two other friends. We originally went to zip line and we did. The zip line experience felt like freedom. Their is something to be said about flying from one cliff to another on a zip line. The air feels great against your cheeks and it’s a rush to feel the speed. Before you reach the other side, you can take a look over your side and realize how high you are. The combination of boulders, sand and the blue and white sky had never looked more beautiful to me then at that height.
After the zip line activity, the decision was made to try the bungee jump. A cage like contraption with a see through floor took us between the two cliffs. Can I stop and say, "who thought it would be funny to scare people more with a see through floor"?
First, my very brave friend jumped. Now here was my turn to live out a dream. At this point, I was still imagining myself as a graceful bird flying in the air. A complete freedom. Feet together and one, two, three ......jump!!!!!! My breath was caught and all I could see was my vision tunneling down towards the ground. As quickly as I jumped, was as quickly I hung upside down. I'm pretty sure a few choice words tried to escape my mouth as I spiraled down but they were swallowed in silence.
What an amazing rush and experience the jump was. I completed something in my life I always wanted to try. I just wish my fall was as beautiful as I imagined it to be. When I had a chance to see the pictures of the jump, beautiful was not the best description. I think the phrase of "A falling bird doing the split" might of been better. Nevertheless, I have no regrets.
Signed,
The falling bird!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The ugly and the beautiful side of travel: Sleepover at MKE
July 9, 2012
As a airline employee I have the benefit of taking advantage of the “beautiful” side of travel. I get to travel for free or for a small fee. I can go anywhere I want as long as my schedule allows for it. I sight see, explore new cultures and get to eat a whole lot of great food. This side of travel is great until it gets complicated. Anyone who travels often knows that at some point, travel can be ugly. The flight will be delayed, or you miss your flight. The percentage for travel to turn ugly gets higher when you only fly standby.
Today I was privileged to experience the “ugly” side of travel. The overnight stay in a airport concourse. For some reason or another a frequent standby passenger will experience a overnight airport stay. The reasons can be financial or the option for a warm bed that night may not be available. Today was my sleepover at Milwaukee airport. After three failed attempts from Newark to Chicago, Milwaukee became my only option. As my body physically made the trip to Milwaukee my suitcase went ahead to Chicago.
Several hours later I found myself in Milwaukee only with a phone, laptop and a sweater. The minus being a bed, pillow and a tooth brush. The ugly and not so glamorous side of travel had presented itself in full force. The next shuttle to Chicago would not be leaving until 4:15am. I had six beautiful hours to quench my boredom and frustration until the shuttle arrived.
The first adjustment was the feeling of being alone in an airport concourse. Stores were shut down, the chatter of customers had ceased. Feeling boredom and frustration I turned on my laptop. Reading the latest Hollywood gossip, world news and anything to get my mind from staring at the clock. Tick, tock and yup I’m still at the airport. Absorbed in my own self misery I forgot to see the beautiful in this travel experience. While I was wallowing, the airport concourse kept alive. I was not alone at all. A maintenance worker by the name of Robert had approached me. Apparently familiar with overnight guest, he offered me a cup of coffee. His eyes and face showing sympathy for the lonely traveler, made me realize this to was also part of what it is to travel. Not always do the travel experiences have to be museums or great dinners. Sometimes the beautiful part of travel is meeting kind people and just allowing yourself to be immersed in the atmosphere around you. After Roberts act of kindness, the airport became vibrant. No longer was I upset and counting down the time until my shuttle arrived. What seemed empty now became interesting to watch. A bird was using the airport as a playground as it flew from seat to seat. Workers were cleaning and chattering about their families. What I was able to see after hours was a privilege. No rushing from plane to plane. I was able to see those people who keep the chair’s clean and the carpet under your feet vacuumed. That realization took my travel experience from “ugly to beautiful”.
As a airline employee I have the benefit of taking advantage of the “beautiful” side of travel. I get to travel for free or for a small fee. I can go anywhere I want as long as my schedule allows for it. I sight see, explore new cultures and get to eat a whole lot of great food. This side of travel is great until it gets complicated. Anyone who travels often knows that at some point, travel can be ugly. The flight will be delayed, or you miss your flight. The percentage for travel to turn ugly gets higher when you only fly standby.
Today I was privileged to experience the “ugly” side of travel. The overnight stay in a airport concourse. For some reason or another a frequent standby passenger will experience a overnight airport stay. The reasons can be financial or the option for a warm bed that night may not be available. Today was my sleepover at Milwaukee airport. After three failed attempts from Newark to Chicago, Milwaukee became my only option. As my body physically made the trip to Milwaukee my suitcase went ahead to Chicago.
Several hours later I found myself in Milwaukee only with a phone, laptop and a sweater. The minus being a bed, pillow and a tooth brush. The ugly and not so glamorous side of travel had presented itself in full force. The next shuttle to Chicago would not be leaving until 4:15am. I had six beautiful hours to quench my boredom and frustration until the shuttle arrived.
The first adjustment was the feeling of being alone in an airport concourse. Stores were shut down, the chatter of customers had ceased. Feeling boredom and frustration I turned on my laptop. Reading the latest Hollywood gossip, world news and anything to get my mind from staring at the clock. Tick, tock and yup I’m still at the airport. Absorbed in my own self misery I forgot to see the beautiful in this travel experience. While I was wallowing, the airport concourse kept alive. I was not alone at all. A maintenance worker by the name of Robert had approached me. Apparently familiar with overnight guest, he offered me a cup of coffee. His eyes and face showing sympathy for the lonely traveler, made me realize this to was also part of what it is to travel. Not always do the travel experiences have to be museums or great dinners. Sometimes the beautiful part of travel is meeting kind people and just allowing yourself to be immersed in the atmosphere around you. After Roberts act of kindness, the airport became vibrant. No longer was I upset and counting down the time until my shuttle arrived. What seemed empty now became interesting to watch. A bird was using the airport as a playground as it flew from seat to seat. Workers were cleaning and chattering about their families. What I was able to see after hours was a privilege. No rushing from plane to plane. I was able to see those people who keep the chair’s clean and the carpet under your feet vacuumed. That realization took my travel experience from “ugly to beautiful”.
Disclaimer and Introduction
Why do I write “The standby diary”. Well the truth is, it’s for pure pleasure. I don’t claim to be a great author, illustrator, story teller or whatever description comes to mind. I write because I want to put ink or key strokes (in modern terms) to my travel and life experiences. Every time I see something beautiful or have a great experience I always get the urge to share. I want to take a picture or call someone and say “hey, do you know what I did because you have to try it”. Life is about the small and large experiences that we share with others and enjoy by ourselves. Creating a database for those experiences is the perfect way to look back and realize that you once lived.
I once attended an event that Warren Buffet was speaking at. I was so excited to see this legend from the business world. Afterwards, I was driving home with a friend and having that great sharing urge. I wanted to share the Warren Buffet experience with everyone I knew. All of a sudden I felt this sadness. I expressed to my friend that I had been pretty blessed to see and experience many things this world had to offer. I wish I would of have written down how I felt at that exact moment when I experienced something cool . As a flight attendant, I have been able to see the Eiffel tower, Mona Lisa, The Great Wall of China and Sistine Chapel. I went on to elaborate that keeping a daily journey would require to much time etc etc. He suggested that I didn’t keep a daily journal but instead when I felt something pretty wonderful happen, that I would write it down. A diary/journal of those simple and grand awe moments.
This was the beginning to “The Standby Diary”. The seed my friend planted that day continued to grow with every trip and awe moment. I decided to finally start typing away and logging into my database experience. Hence, “The standby Diary” was born!
Now the logistics, why the name? Standby is the way I usually travel. I have been an airline employee for some time. As an airline employee, I fly standby which means only if the flight has space I can jump on. This perk allows me to travel often. My writings will be from a trip or an everyday moment at home. Home for me is the beautiful city of Chicago. As for opinions and the mention of places I attend. Opinion's are exactly what I write. I’am not a fact provider or a food critic. This is simply a space for me to express myself and have a copy of the life I have lived.
I once attended an event that Warren Buffet was speaking at. I was so excited to see this legend from the business world. Afterwards, I was driving home with a friend and having that great sharing urge. I wanted to share the Warren Buffet experience with everyone I knew. All of a sudden I felt this sadness. I expressed to my friend that I had been pretty blessed to see and experience many things this world had to offer. I wish I would of have written down how I felt at that exact moment when I experienced something cool . As a flight attendant, I have been able to see the Eiffel tower, Mona Lisa, The Great Wall of China and Sistine Chapel. I went on to elaborate that keeping a daily journey would require to much time etc etc. He suggested that I didn’t keep a daily journal but instead when I felt something pretty wonderful happen, that I would write it down. A diary/journal of those simple and grand awe moments.
This was the beginning to “The Standby Diary”. The seed my friend planted that day continued to grow with every trip and awe moment. I decided to finally start typing away and logging into my database experience. Hence, “The standby Diary” was born!
Now the logistics, why the name? Standby is the way I usually travel. I have been an airline employee for some time. As an airline employee, I fly standby which means only if the flight has space I can jump on. This perk allows me to travel often. My writings will be from a trip or an everyday moment at home. Home for me is the beautiful city of Chicago. As for opinions and the mention of places I attend. Opinion's are exactly what I write. I’am not a fact provider or a food critic. This is simply a space for me to express myself and have a copy of the life I have lived.
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