The Rerouted Skytress

If you thought I’d be ready to go back flying after being on vacation for almost a month, you’d be completely wrong. Heck, I was just starting to get my vacation rhythm down. Unbelievably, my vacation ended before I could even watch one episode of, “Emily In Paris”. Egads!

My first few days on vacation were not great. I was mentally and physically exhausted. I was having periodic sharp chest pains and unusual stress headaches. I remember thinking as I pulled into the driveway one night that I hoped I didn’t have a stroke or heart attack while I was on vacation. Just as I was thinking this, I hit the side of the garage with my Suburban. Yessiree. I sure did! Amazingly, I didn’t have a stroke or heart attack when I saw the damage to my Suburban and to the house. I’ll readily admit, my ego took a severe hit. When I found out the first appointment for getting my car fixed would be February 6th, I called my insurance agent. I was gobsmasked the first appointment would be TWO months away! My agent told me this was the new normal. When I said the dealership estimated 45 days for the car to be fixed, she explained this was the new normal, too. Ouch! I’m not a fan of the new normal. Upon reflection, I vow to be a more cautious driver. Especially around garages.

Christmas lights and Christmas decorations eventually pulled me out of my bah humbug mood. My holiday spirit meter surged in the right direction with a couple inches of snow, too. I quickly forgot about fixing my Suburban. Instead I decided to whip up a Yule log. The fact that I had never baked one didn’t deter me. Heck, I figured enough frosting could hide a multitude of Yule log baking mistakes. I even made Swedish chocolate balls called Chokladbollar to go around the Yule log. Upon reflection, I believe Ron had a heavenly hand in this matter. When I went on to Pinterest to find a Yule log recipe, I saw the Chokladbollar recipe. Yessiree. Ron was definitely sending me his Swedish vibes from Heaven. I’m thrilled to report both the Yule log and the Chokladbollar were amazingly delicious.

My vacation had sweet doses of childlike wonder sprinkled throughout it. Several times I found myself standing at my front door gleefully shouting, “Merry Christmas”. I didn’t just shout this randomly out into the winter night. Although, upon reflection, I may just do this exact thing next year. No. I shouted, “Merry Christmas” to the people passing by spreading holiday cheer to our neighborhood. One night we had a Jeep parade go up the street. Each Jeep was completely covered from bumper to bumper, roof to undercarriage, with Christmas lights. The drivers tooted their horns while their passengers shouted out, “Merry Christmas”. This merriment made me feel all warm and giddy inside. The next night the fire department paraded down the street with Santa riding on one of the fire trucks wishing everyone Merry Christmas. The flashing lights and the happy sirens of the ambulances, fire trucks and Fire Chiefs Suburbans was something to behold. Yessiree. It was utterly….joyful! I was even joyful when I ran into my friends early one morning when I looked like a complete wreck. Yessiree. I rolled out of bed, threw my clothes on from the day prior, brushed my teeth and headed to the post office. I was extremely proud of myself for getting up early and missing the post office Christmas mailing rush. So, I decided I’d treat myself to a tea from our local restaurant. Upon further reflection, I should have just driven directly home from the post office. Yessiree. Everyone knows you will absolutely run into people you know when you look your absolute worst. I guess I was hoping for a Christmas miracle to not run into anyone I knew that morning. I’m sure Santa is still Ho Ho Ho-ing about this encounter. I know I am. You’ll be happy to know I looked a million times better when I had lunch a few days later with my Skytress friend, Cindy. Heck, I even wore Christmas tree earrings. I haven’t worn Christmas earrings since I was a young Skytress flying the holidays. “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, Such pleasure do you bring me”

I know it wasn’t pleasurable for many people flying this holiday season. Especially for the Southwest passengers and crews. I’ll admit. I was relieved I wasn’t flying while the Southwest Airlines meltdown was happening. Heck. I even tried to avoid all the press about the meltdown. Unfortunately, several of my friends weren’t so lucky. They got caught in the meltdown. They eventually rented cars to get home to Baltimore and Sarasota. Interestingly enough, they all stopped at Buc-ees on their drive home. So, upon reflection, I like to think they all won in the long run.

Sadly, all was not merry and bright this vacation. Two dear family friends passed away before Christmas. One friend, Mary Dawn, was a dear family friend from Butte, Montana. Our other friend, Danny, was an amazing friend from St. Louis. Danny owned an optical shop. He picked out all my fabulous eyeglasses. A Skytress I met once in the crew lounge restroom in Atlanta flew up to St. Louis just have Danny pick out her eyewear. Danny and I laughed about this recently when I went to pick out my new eyeglasses. Of course, it took Danny mere minutes to pick out the perfect new glasses for me. Then we spent another hour just sitting and talking. Upon reflection, I know if I had sat longer with Danny, it wouldn’t have been long enough. I can’t help but think Heaven is sure getting crowed with some of God’s best people.

Heaven also gained one of the sweetest dogs ever a couple days ago. My sister’s family dog, Charlie went to Heaven on December 29th. It’s been bitter sweet reflecting about Charlie and what a joy he brought all of us. My sister’s family got a new puppy a week before Charlie went to Heaven. The puppy’s name is George. We all call him Georgie. He is named after my Dad. My Dad’s name is George. Charlie was named after Charlie Brown from Peanuts. But, was he really? My Mom used to call my Dad, Charlie. I guess a case can be made that both of my sister’s dogs are named after my Dad. I know without doubt Charlie the dog is with Charlie my Dad in Heaven. What a blessing for them and for us that the two Charlie’s are together.

I know I was blessed to be off most of the month of December. Believe me. I constantly reflect upon this fact. Admittedly, I’m trying hard to make this month long vacation a holiday tradition. Heck. I’m already excited for next December. Yessiree. I already have new ideas for Christmas decorations and Christmas recipes. I’ll definitely need a month of vacation to implement all my Christmas ideas. Of course, this time next year I’ll lament about having to go back to work, too. It’s never easy to go back flying when my vacation rhythm is really starting to hum. Thankfully this year my first layover was in Little Rock. You all know my love for the hotel in Little Rock. They have the lights that automatically come on when your feet touch the floor! I guess it will be no surprise to you all, my sweet readers,….when I retire, I will reflect upon this hotel fondly. Not as fondly as reflecting about all my vacation time off. But, fondly enough.