Personal essays
On what to do when s’ happens.
Road trip
I seem to be on a “phrases with swear words” kick.
Maggie and I are in Australia. This week we’ll be in Brisbane for a rugby tournament she’s playing in.
Tomorrow while she’s off practicing with her team, I’ll be heading down the Brisbane river to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree.
If the experience is even a tiny bit as good as it looks on their site, this will be yet another great day here in Australia.
Last week we were in Sydney and went to museums, the botanical garden, a concert at the Opera house, the national library, Bondi Beach, a walk across the bridge to Luna Park, and we took ferry rides to the Taronga Zoo and a rugby game in Manly. Add to that a ton of walking and good eating and it’s been an outstanding trip so far.
A lot of it were unplanned moments and adjustments when something didn’t go quite right.
I love to have plans - at least some skeleton for the day. I think having plans allows you to be flexible and make informed decisions when things go awry without wasting the day trying to decide what to do next.
Getting here
Maggie and I were scheduled to depart within five minutes of each other. She was flying American from Philadelphia through Los Angeles and I was flying United from Cleveland through San Francisco. We were scheduled to arrive in Sydney within five minutes of each other as well.
As Rick drove me to the airport for my flight my phone buzzed. I looked down and it was Maggie with a “what the f’” message.
It turns out s’ happened.
Her flight, and it seems most flights, out of Philadelphia had been cancelled. Not postponed. Cancelled.
I’m not sure that her passion for the show “Jet Lag” paid off, but she treated it like a game and got herself on a flight out of JFK in four hours. Her new route was through Aukland. Now she’d land an hour after me but that wasn’t a big deal.
She then got a train from Philadelphia to New York City, found her way to the Long Island railroad, and then took the subway to JFK. At least that’s how I understand it. By then I was on my plane to San Francisco.
Sometimes it’s good when s’ happens.
Her flight at JFK was delayed enough that she was able to check luggage, make it through security, and board in plenty of time.
Uh oh. That meant that she was going to be late for her connection. Fortunately, there are a lot of planes from Aukland to Sydney. Even better, most of the people on her flight were continuing on so the Aukland to Sydney plane was delayed and waiting for them.
A couple hours and a cup of coffee after I cleared customs, Maggie joined me and we headed for the train into the city.
We’d each traveled more than a day to get here - it was amazing that we ended up in the same place just a couple of hours apart.
On the one hand a lot of s’ had happened, on the other, it didn’t make that much of a difference.
Often times it’s not the s’ that happens, it’s your reaction to it.
My flight
When the guy across the aisle reached up to stow his suitcase in the overhead compartment I noticed his Rugby-themed shirt.
I told him I like the shirt and asked where he got it. As I told him, I’m always on the lookout for Rugby stuff for Maggie.
He asked why I was coming to Australia and I told him that Maggie was playing in a rugby tournament the following week in Brisbane.
“I am too,” he said. Even though he had a British accent, he lived and worked in the San Francisco area and played for the San Francisco Fog.
We chatted a bit about where he works (I have friends who work there - one in the same role), Australia, and rugby.
I’m always amazed at how small the world is.
The guy behind him overheard us and started talking about rugby as well. His kids played.
Then he stopped and looked at me and said, “I know you.”
“Maybe,” I said. “You look familiar.”
He started looking for connections. We’re both from Cleveland, we both worked in media, we both -
“Hang on,” he said, “you know Rick.”
“I do,” I agreed.
This guy used to be a neighbor of Rick’s and one of the guys who participated in a split of a pair of Indians season tickets (before they were the Guardians). Each of us bought in and got two tickets to see something like eight home games and then draw for playoff games if there were any.
Such a small world.
In fact, he’s the guy that suggested I go to the Koala preserve tomorrow.
It’s a good reminder that s’ happens, but sometimes it’s good s’.
Essay from Dim Sum Thinking Newsletter 334. Read the rest of the Newsletter or subscribe