Moments D684: Jamaica Mon

Today was a busy day!  Last minute running around prepping for the coming week in Jamaica.  I needed a dress for my cousin's wedding.  We had to stop at Heini's to pick up EQ's camera that she borrowed earlier in the week and then we had to make our way to the airport.  Early.  It's the beginning of March break and it's a mad dash to get out of the city.

And EQ & I were no different dashing about with silly grins upon our faces, eager to be on the plane and arriving in a new world.  Well, a new world for me and all of my family travelling down.  EQ, on the other hand, this was his third trip to Jamaica.  I can hope that our family trip turns out to be a visit that trumps his other visits.  Doubtful knowing the depth of his travels, but hey, I'm a dreamer!

But I digress.

For me, walking through the Montego Bay airport was today's moment.  The promise of a new adventure. The hope for a beautiful wedding.  The opportunity to spend quality time with my family and have EQ ever more enveloped into the fold.  A week to just soak it all in.

Those moments where you know, you are at the beginning of many beautiful moments to follow.

Moments soaking in new energy.

Moments excited for to the days to come.

Moments D628: Coming and Going

Today was a very long travel day, but it's exciting to be back and starting the newest chapter of life here in Toronto and this time my love is with me.    

To that point, and a total side bar to today's moment, the fact that EQ now in Toronto with me is amazing.  Looking ahead, I'll do my best not to inundate you with "us" stories as our chapter unfolds as I know we'll be experiencing many firsts and exciting moments as the days pass.   Only the most relevant that fall into my best "daily moments" will make the cut.  I promise!

Back to today's moment.

Today's moment is very apropos to the fact that EQ and I are now travelling together.  Not only are we travelling together on the plane (for only the third time in the same direction and not to different cities!), but we are travelling together in life.  Metaphorical.  Deep, and it had me pondering the bigger picture while watching something very simple.

My moment today came as we were just leaving Atlanta, GA where we were laid over for nearly 3 hours.  Our plane was slow to make its way to our takeoff runway and as we waited on the tarmac for the final paperwork to leave, I had the opportunity to watch as other planes were landing.

The "a-ha" moment came, just as we were about to take off.  Our engine revving, another plane landed on the runway beside us.  As it was turning around to taxi back to the terminals, we began our takeoff.

As I watched, I reflected on the comings and goings of months passed.  The places, the people, the food, the experiences.  So much has happened.  I've been able to spread my wings and fly more and as a result I've grown so much.

So many comings and goings.  I found myself smiling because this time I wasn't looking at the other plane wondering how EQ was doing on his flight home.  This time he was right beside me.  Yes, beside me.

I don't know if he noticed, but I squeezed his hand a little tighter in that moment and then watched our takeoff with a big smile upon my face.

Goodbye Atlanta.  Thanks for reminding me that I'm no longer travelling alone.

Moments reflecting upon the hustle and bustle of an airport.

Moments where the coming and going planes remind you of your life.

Moments D395: Time with Dad

Normally when I call my Mom & Dad I end up talking to both of them at the same time, or it’s just my Mom as Dad is typically out and about. How do I talk to them both at the same time? They each pick up a phone extension so the three of us are all in on the conversation. It’s been like this since I moved away from home and it always makes me smile.

But today when I called, my Mom was in the shower, so Dad and I chatted on our own. A bit of a rarity!

Now you might recall that my dad actually had open heart surgery just over a week ago, so having an opportunity to talk to him alone about how he’s doing and feeling through his recuperation was quite interesting. I think he was a little more honest because he didn`t have Mom to worry about with some of his pains that he shared.

My dad and I chatted for about 15 minutes overall. It was a lovely conversation and I know I was smiling the entire time. His energy and outlook are more positive than I’ve seen in years. He’s excited for his coming adventures. He’s excited to share a couple of those with me.

The first thing he did was find out when and how he can get travel insurance. Low and behold, he’s good to go in the next three months. He’s eager to find a trip that he and Mom can do in the fall!

A cousin of mine is getting married in Jamaica next March. Check. He’s officially going now.

He and Mom have been wanting to do a European river cruise for years now. This is now top priority to book. This is a trip that he wants me to join them on. Either fall of 2014 or spring 2015. Yes, my Dad is a planner. (Now you know where I get it from!)

Dad is ready to travel. I can’t wait to hear all about their coming travels and honestly, I’m excited to share in the experience of the river cruise through Europe. What an experience that will be. I’m so very happy that he’s in this new head space with their health issues behind them.

So today’s moment is celebrating my dad, his amazingly speedy recovery and his renewed lust for life. Seeing him invigorated once again inspires me to dig a little deeper too.

And yes, I look forward to travelling with him that will be a great moment!

Moments celebrating victories.

Moments appreciating family.

Moments 280: Singing Stewardess & Moon rise

Today was an incredible day. After a 2hr drive in torrential rains (yes in the middle of winter!) I was finally on vacation. As I drove through the spectacular rain storm, I really thought things experience would be my moment. After all it was beautiful and, at times, frightening.

But this wasn't the moment of the day.

On our flight from Buffalo to Baltimore, we made a new friend with the lady in the window seat. She was lovely, insightful and overall quite pleasant to chat with. I thought her stories might be the moment of the day. But I was wrong.

When we were preparing to leave Baltimore for Florida the unexpected happened. One of the stewardesses introduced a soon-to-be-married couple. After the introduction, she asked us to listen up as the soon-to-be-groom had something to share with us about his bride-to-be. Three next thing I knew. .. the stewardess began to sing From This Moment. What an incredible voice she had too! I was thoroughly impressed. It brought a tear to my eye and a warmth to my heart. First because this stewardess sang the whole sing and did so with such passion. Secondly, because of the groom's request to share his feelings with us. Beautiful.

Then shortly after we were in the air, we watched the moon rise. How incredibly spectacular. As we banked away from its grande finale, I paused and just made a note to myself about how fortunate I was to have been able to experience these two magical moments back-to-back.

Today was about unexpected moments. I loved them all, but these most of all.

Moments D254: Stay Calm & Persevere

Today was a non-day. Nothing spectacular happened this morning, nor all day at work (other than getting a lot of work done as it is quiet in the office at the moment!). And then, I began my trek North for a weekend with my girlfriend and everything shifted. This drive was a beautiful moment for two reasons.

First: I had four hours in the car driving by myself. I had four hours to reflect upon the year behind me and the opportunities I have ahead of me. I had four hours to mourn the year’s losses. I had four hours to celebrate the year’s wins. I had four hours to really understand all that has happened to me over the past year. Talk about cathartic.

Secondly: I had a scary adventure about 20 minutes before arriving at my destination. I managed to get stuck; on a side-road; going uphill; around a corner; that wasn’t plowed; without cell service. Yes. That’s right. Re-read that. Stuck; on a side-road; going uphill; around a corner; that wasn’t plowed; without cell service.

How you ask? I lost momentum climbing a particularly icy/snowy hill after driving into some snow that wasn’t packed down. I started to slip backwards down the hill in my car. Instead of panicking, I put the car into reverse and tried to navigate the Northern blackness of night down the hill and around a corner. Huh. Not so easy when you can’t see 10 feet behind you. So, on the way down (to a point where I figured I could gather enough momentum to get back up!) I stayed close to the hill side and left the cliff side alone. Of course, this meant that I overcompensated and I ended up off the road, in deeper, unpacked snow, on the hill side of the road. Before I knew it, I was completely buried in snow. Yes. It was up over my bumper. My tires spun and splashed snow everywhere.

And there I was. Ten kilometres away from my friend’s house. Stuck in the snow, without cell phone service.

And yet I didn’t panic. I didn’t even really get anxious (at first). I simply persevered. I dug out my wheels. Then I dug out my bumpers. I tried pushing my car down the hill, then thought better of it as I worried I wouldn’t be able to control the momentum should I manage to get her to move. In the end, it was digging down to the leaves beneath the snow that won me enough friction to get out of the deep snow.

And then, I found myself nearly parallel on the teeny road. In order to go up the hill (the direction I needed to go) I would have to cut my wheels tightly in order to avoid the cliff ahead. NOW I was anxious. Even going back the way I came could have been more challenging as I might not be able to control the speed on the icy hill. Either way, the cliff was directly ahead of me. I even considered bailing at that point and just hiking out. (After all I had food, drinks and lots of warm clothes! I was good for at least a couple of days hiking!)

But, like everything I do in life, I gave it one more shot. I figured I could control my momentum enough to figure out if it would work BEFORE disaster were to strike. And, so boldly, instead of looking back, (which might have been easier) I looked ahead and plowed onward. (sorry for the pun!) And, as I write out the story, I realize there are many parallels between my life in the past year and this stuck-in-the-snow experience. Much like my life’s overview earlier in the night, it was time to look forward.

Then slowly, in first gear, revving my poor car until she was screaming, I managed to crest the hill. A mini celebration was had, but I wasn’t out of the woods yet. (Literally!) I still had 6.6 km of this winding, hilly road to navigate.

In the end, every hill that I crested was a moment to be grateful to my wee car for getting me over the hill. And looking back, I’m certain that had I not had a standard car (thank you Mom & Dad for teaching me standard!) I would have had to abandon my car and walk out of the woods to a place where I could find cell phone service again. I was ready for that possibility, but I didn’t give in without one last try.

So today’s moment: reflection and staying calm.

Moments of reflection.

Moments of keeping calm and persevering.

Moments D222: Home Coming

It’s funny because as much as I love to travel and explore new places, there really isn't any place like home. 

After a lovely getaway to Arizona for 5 days with MANY adventures, beautiful moments, stories and photos to share it’s still nice to be sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Today’s moment. My bed. MY bed.

Yes, I am happy to be home.

Ah……

Moments to appreciate one’s trip.

Moments to enjoy the stillness of home.