#2 & #3

#2 Strangers Will Tell You Anything

What do you think it is about sitting next to someone that you don't know that makes you want to air all of your dirty laundry? Maybe its the fact that they don't know you, therefore there is no background knowledge...they can't judge you on anything except the side of the story they choose to tell you. Or maybe it is the appeal of knowing you will never see them again. Or maybe it is to get an unbiased opinion. For whatever the reason, I spent the last part of my flight from CLT to ATL talking with my seat neighbor (remember the one...Mr. Sweaty Close Talker I Just Told A Funny Joke So I'll Nudge You AGAIN To Make Sure You're Still Listening) about his wife.

It all started with him leaning over, studying my left hand, and announcing "Well, you are obviously not married." to which I should have replied "If you are basing your observation on the lack of a ring on my finger, then I will imply the same thing about you" but I would have been wrong. He is married. But no ring. However, I replied with a "No. You?" And that opened the flood gates.......

His wife is much younger than him. She'd decided that she wasn't happy. So she'd moved out to make it on her own. Well, that got her about 4 months of lonely solitude and a ton of credit card debt. Apparently you can't make it as a waitress at a crappy restaurant and try to support yourself, your shopping habit and your child. So, she came crawling back. And now they are working through their problems.

So I tried to make him feel better. He talked about not knowing if he could trust her again and so on. So I gave him the whole spiel about how everything happens for a reason and the only way to know if it is worth giving something a second chance is to give it that second chance. It might not work out, but things have a funny way of working themselves out just the way they are supposed to. He wasn't really interested. He kept interrupting. Apparently, he wasn't seeking advice, just a sounding board.

I'd like to think that I can usually give good advice. I realize I may not always do a good job following my own advice but 1) who does and 2) I usually know I am making a mistake....that's why I put my phone on silence! So no one can call and snap me out of my bad decisions. Which is worse, but I can admit my flaws. And I haven't done that in a while, so I'm on the mends....only a few of you will get that. Any of you strangers out there have a free ear? I could really air some dirty laundry......

#3 The Magic Suitcase

The only thing Delta couldn't seem to delay....my suitcase. Truly amazing.

Imagine yourself in this situation:

You've spent the past ten hours traveling what should have been a five hour route. It's past midnight. You've landed in an airport that is 1) freezing cold, remember? and 2) has tornado shelter signs posted around. You suffer from an irrational fear of tornadoes and feel as though you could have potentially landed in your own personal hell. Bleary eyed, you follow the signs to the baggage claim. You stand there while other tired Delta passengers fetch their bags from the conveyor belt.

Slowly, everyone begins to head off to catch their rides. Soon, you are the last one standing there. The conveyor belt stops. Your head drops. You know it, but you don't want to bring yourself to admit it.......your bags are lost, and you are going to the wedding in the same khaki skirt and orange shirt your cheered your freshmen to a third place victory in. Yep. It's bad. You've checked your phone charger in that missing suitcase and of course your phone is dead. You've resorted to collect calls from the pay phone that hasn't been used since 2001. In fact, you think its miraculous there is still a pay phone in the booth.

You head to the baggage office. Walk in, get in line, and.....there it is. Like an old friend you haven't seen in years; like sticking your hand into the cooler, fishing around, and pulling out the last Miller Lite despite being told none remained; like putting your last 50 cents into a vending machine, selecting E 7, and the bag of chips gets stuck, but only for a moment before dropping to the bottom; like putting on your winter coat and finding $20 in the pocket......its your suitcase.

The one thing Delta got right. Somehow, it made that connection you ran so hard to catch but missed; somehow it made the trip in five hours when it took you 10; someone lovingly removed it from the conveyor belt when no one was left to claim it. It was feeling just like you. It hung its head in despair when all the other bags were picked up by their happy owners. And, like you, it spent the last five hours wondering, hoping against hope, that you'd make it to Akron. And, you did. And you two are reunited like two long lost lovers. A tear may even have been shed on both of your parts.

And, the best news, this happened twice. On the way there, and on the way back. So, if for no other reason, fly Delta because your bags will beat you there and back. I truly have a magic suitcase.