Taking care of business

Normally, when I have to be away from home, I spend weeks of angst, dreading it.  I'm trying to live life more day by day now, giving up some of that dread and worry, and I have to say it worked out for this trip.  There was just the normal level of anxiety that most people feel about getting to the airport, through security, and on the plane on time.  And, of course, the trip went well.  

I traveled alone this time.  My work team usually travels as a group, but one missed the conference because of a family reunion and another went up early and stayed later to spend time with family, so I was by myself this time.  I didn't mind.  I listened to music and read, walked the airport hallways and got my steps in.  

I got to Cleveland just as festivities were beginning, so I ubered to the hotel and checked in, then ubered to the restaurant and joined in the buffet.  I met quite a few people at that dinner that I hadn't met before and got to spend time with people I only see once a year.  This was the view from my room on the 27th floor.  Not too bad, eh?  Lake Erie as far as you can see.

There wasn't a lot of time for looking out the window, tho.  From that Monday night dinner, there was constantly something going on.  There were so many speakers.  The CEO spoke, then the leaders of all the different products that we sell, speakers that talked about what's coming next for the company and a speaker that talked about insurance fraud and how we catch people.  And I was ready for it.  

I fell asleep.  Yep.  I did.  I didn't fall out of my chair or anything.  But, I fell asleep at one point and realized I'd missed something the speaker said.  God, he was boring.  We were playing around at dinner, trying to find someone that didn't fall asleep while that guy talked.  Yes, there were people that could say they didn't drift off at least once while he spoke, but not many.  

The food was good, the time passed fast, and I got to talk to a lot of people.  At these events, everyone generally moves table to table and once in a while, you end up being part of a small group.  Those are the best.  Young people wanted to talk to me about my retirement and about planning for it and about why I postponed it.  And, when I told them that part of our early retirement plan depended on us being married and now I'm afraid we'll lose that, they hung and shook their heads in commiseration.  I felt very seen and heard.  They also wanted to talk about company history and how I got from where I started to where I ended up.  And, I explained that at one time, my job was a career goal, but for the younger people, it needed to be a stepping stone on the path to a career, they took that to heart.  I explained that I'd stayed at the company 41 years because there were opportunities to move from job to job as the company grew and that we're in a growth cycle now and it's not always this way, so they needed to take opportunities and new experiences as they come and not wait for the perfect job or to be tapped on the shoulder and asked to apply for it.  

It was a great opportunity to reconnect with young people and with the job, and I enjoyed it but was glad to be back home.  And, flying United wasn't bad at all.  They've certainly fixed the issues I had with them when I flew them several years ago (before switching exclusively to Southwest).  Most of the United Airlines employees were great!  Helpful to me and to other passengers.  No more treating us like the customer didn't matter.  There was a gate attendant in Houston that was probably ending a long and stressful day due to weather delays.  She wasn't very nice, but she was balanced by the flight attendants from my flight that were waiting at the gate with us.  An elderly flyer that didn't speak English walked up to them for help.  They all tried, but the young woman that spoke Spanish was the one that helped the lady, who turned out to be part of a group of elderly travelers that came by to express their appreciation and tell her how 'bonita' (pretty) she was.  It was a moment that touched my heart.  So, when I got on the plane, I took the opportunity to tell her what a nice moment it was and that it made a good impression.  

Good deeds have their own rewards, but it didn't hurt that just before takeoff, she tapped me on the shoulder and offered me a seat in a nearly empty row, where there was more room.  I think the guy across the aisle had his eyes on that seat.  Oops!

How about some flowers that aren't daylilies.  There are just a few daylilies left and it's gotten so hot that some of them are wilting before they open, but other things are really starting to pop.  

This is Turk's cap.  The red flowers draw hummingbirds, so when I look out of the kitchen window and see motion in the leaves, if I watch long enough, the hummingbird will come out and go for a more visible flower.  

These are swamp lilies and they aren't fully opened yet, but I couldn't wait to share a pic.  I'm sure there will be another one later of the fully opened flowers.  For such an unattractive name, they make a beauty of a flower. 

When I was walking yesterday, I came across a line of painted rocks.  This isn't unusual.  We have several rock painters in the neighborhood that do beautiful work and occasionally leave a rock at our house with a special message and we see them all around the neighborhood.  This time, there was a message written on the ground "If it speaks to you, take it."  And, this one spoke to me loudly (shouting!), so I took it.  And, waved my thanks at the front of the house.  

'The happiest people don't have the best of everything...they just make the best of everything they have.'

Words to live by.  

I really want to talk about politics, but I'm pretty sure the whole country spoke on that topic yesterday.  The few.  And, the many.  

Everybody have a great week.  Find something that makes you feel good about yourself.  Tackle something that normally gives you pause.  Rack up so many personal wins that you get tired of winning.  That's how I believe we 'win' in this situation.  

Lane