I’ve a friend with whom I often share the sentiment “Life is funny…” Her response is always the same: “Funny, ha-ha… or funny, like the snow tastes funny?” And, more times than not it’s funny… like the snow tastes funny.
Months prior to scheduled summer travel, July & August appeared a glamorous adventure ahead for Colleen and I. We are most certainly blessed to represent Cutting-Up on the road; and, we had undeniably enviable work destinations for our chosen summer markets - San Fran, NYC, & Vegas. I mean seriously! Heading out of town for work is absolutely a gift; but, friends… travel today is, well, full of lessons that fall short of ‘tre-glam’. Certainly anyone traveling today might echo that airline travel just isn’t what it once was. More at the mercy of flight reductions, fare increases, staff shortages, reroutes, baggage limitations, and mother nature’s unpredictability… delays are inevitably increased. So, when heading out of town it helps to:
- pack wisely - pack lightly
- pack as though you may not see your luggage for a few days
- dress comforably
- get an early start - it’ll be funny later that day
- think ahead
- know you can’t circumvent each problem
- become adaptable
- bring lots of extra cash for delicious airport fare
- pack your phone charger in your carry-on
- hope for the best
- bring a funny friend
- develop a keen sense of humor for irony
- make new friends with airport service staff
- pack your camera to document surroundings you might otherwise pass, and,
- yes… prepare for delays.
Admittedly, work travel tends to highten angst for myself and Colleen. We’ve 100% self-induced pressure to exceed expectations for our company whenever we set out to market. So, spending prolific time in transit kept our apprehensions in an arrested state. However, given enough span and opportunity our adventure to New York City August ‘08 would, unknowingly, come to provide lessons in further cultivating our collective want for true laid-back dispositions, despite circumstances. My mother always says “be careful what you wish for… it might come true.” So, ok, mothers are usually right. (And, I hope she doesn’t read that.)
Sitting, waiting, and pacing the small Raleigh-Durham North Carolina airport, our robust “woo-hoos!” wained for New York City. We hurried along, adapted to try different routes, utilized problem solving skills, and ending up with only unfilfilled desires to get where we needed to be. Herein lies the evolution of a lesson… Maybe lines and delays ARE the gift from the Universe - - because without them, we might just never slow down. Perhaps we would just drive ourselves into hurried frenzies and combust if we hadn’t opportunities to wait & experience detours from our schedules. Perhaps the universe wants us to have an experience greater than what we can fathom… or give us a chance to breath and gain perspective.
As the day wore on into evening, we were boarded onto a tiny little plane. Colleen almost fled due to anxiety driven by acute clausterphobia; but, calmer heads prevailed and once again we were called upon to wait. But, now we waited aboard a tiny craft. We spent a good amount of time convincing ourselves the plane would be fine in flight and anticipated being cleared for take off. Untimately, we were deplaned due to a little technicallity in the form of a tornado hovering over Manhattan. Yeah, that’s ok… We didn’t love this tiny plane anyway. However, for the record, I was prepared to execute Exit row duties which were, thankfully, never called upon!
So, after the long day in the airport we purchased a short night’s stay in a hotel nearby… and we were welcomed to North Carolina by the most beautiful spirit! Aaron, from the Fairfield Inn, (pictured below) you made our day! Thank you for being happy at, literally, the midnight hour. You were an unexpected highlight in “New York” and you weren’t even there… you were our North Carolina angel & we love you! The front desk provided travel toothbrushes and toothpaste to prepare for the next day of travel, aka: same shirt, different day.
As an aside, we were unaware of the MANY colleges in North Carolina! We must have visited the small collegiate sport airport shop 10 times. Let’s see there’s: Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, East Carolina… Ok, I can’t remember any otheres; but, we spent more time looking at Tarheels memorabelia than TarMaks on this travel day. But, in truth, it’s looked back upon for the memories and good times. Thanks for the memories North Carolina!
Well shiver me timbers! Cutting-Up is indeed honored to have been selected by Sabrina James, Editor in Chief, as an “Editor’s Pick” for her Central Florida’s Hip & Sophisticated Parenting Magazine, PLAYGROUND! Sabrina placed us on page 10 of the Fall 2008 issue of PLAYGROUND. Big thanks to all the magazine’s staff in Orlando, Florida for seeking, finding, selecting, and highlighting the Cutting-Up Road Warrior T-shirt! You can find a higher quality of the article that includes our tee via the link below by selecting page 10 of their publication. Here is a direct link to download a high-resolution PDF of each page in the magazine of this issue of Playground Magazine. A small copy of the page is below for you to see! We are so happily honored, PLAYGROUND! 
