Ah yes... the plan WAS to take Amtrak across country to visit family in MA and DE. NOT happening!
A train strike begins tomorrow. It is not due to Amtrak negotiations failing, but for freight train employees who have been working with multiple unions for several years and negotiations failing. They have had enough. My understanding is that the workers are paid well, but have no schedules and are 'on call' 24/7. Even if they love their work, this is no way to live.
Yesterday morning I pow-wowed with my sister Lisa and by the end of the discussion I decided not to wait to see if the strike was averted, but to cancel my train reservation and get a plane reservation. To further complicate things, the Durango airport is resurfacing the runway and their reopen date was not guaranteed. So... I will drive to Albuquerque, NM and fly from there.
Going east is confirmed, but alas, I have run into a complication on my return flight. I arrive at 8:30PM and do not want to drive the 3+ hours across a VERY dark and lonely stretch of the reservation back to Durango. However, that is also the first day of the world famous Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque. A basic hotel room has been jacked up to $400+/night!!!!! I am still working on that one. My sister's college roommate Kath has offered me a room in Santa Fe which would be fun, but it seems such an imposition to show up so late in the evening.
Stay tuned and I will add to this saga throughout my two weeks...
LATE THURSDAY
I spent many hours on the phone and internet today, but finally have a plan... I'm grateful. My brothers and sisters ahve bbeen helping me plan this trip for a couple months and none of us wanted to 'give up'. As of this evening:
- I have airfare to the east and back home
- I have a hotel the night before take off and when I return
- I will drive to Albuquerque, not my preference, but it will work
- I have reorganized my packing plan
- I have printed all my confirmation paperwork.
- I have many friends who have checked in and 2 guardian angels here in Durango
- I'm ready.
FRIDAY
I began the day reading this statement on my 'home page'... "A tentative agreement announced Thursday looks likely to head off a strike that would have brought freight trains across the U.S. to a screeching halt." I am starting the day grateful I made alternate plans. I have a noon meeting and will then head to Albuquerque, NM... let the journey begin.
I had a noon meeting at the church to finalize the Women's Retreat. It is a wonderful and supportive group of women and I was blessed to be able to be a part of the planning process. As I am on my trip east I will not be able to attend; with all the planning and forethought it will be great.
A good beginning at 5AM. The only glitch was not being able to get the coffee pot working. I was able to get a cup in the lobby when I checked out, but alas...it was jet fuel!
As I had driven to the car park the night before I knew the route. It was just as perfect as my friend Christie said. I drove in, told where to park, found a spot in the designated row and the shuttle pulled right up. A 3 minute ride to Southwest check in...
This morning I am reflecting on changed plans. For weeks I have been focused on taking the train across the country. I was excited for the adventure. I was thrilled for the experience, to speak nothing of the many people of my world who wanted to 'hear all about it when you got back'.
I am not particularly good with last minute change. I need to be mentally prepared for whatever it is I am going to do... teach, lead, travel, hike... my personal landmine is last minute change. It seems this is all I have dealt with for the last 4 days... change, change and a few more changes. As I write this I am waiting for my delayed flight. As this affects Ron and Gail picking me up in CT, I get a bit more adgitated.
Of course it would delight me if every day unfolded exactly as I had hoped, but of course the likelihood of that happening is next to zero. This change requires me to find a way to cope. I will put on my big girl pants and do it!
plan c -
it can be distressing
it is distressing
the shift from what i thought
to what is
from taking the train
to flying
from what i thought was certain
to the ramifications of a train workers strike
plan a – train
plan b - wait out the strike in hopes of a settlement
plan c – fly into connecticut
pray for good connections
angst
concern
anxiety
apprehension
did i make the right choice
only time will tell
can change really be good
move forward
being indecisive is stagnant
freezing in place
i choose responsible
but my choice
my opinion
is not mine here
the greater world is being decided for me
my horizon has shifted
time to reframe
feel comfort
count my blessings
i do have choice
time for plan c
SUNDAY
A simple day. Ron and I went to Holden Congregational Church. I haven't been there in 50 years! Good service. Good message. After many hours in my youth roaming those halls, it felt like home.
MONDAY
I didn't get moving til about 11 today. Breakfast and lunch were meshed into one...an extended food fest that transitioned from fruit waffles to pumpkin muffins to chicken.
Off Ron & I went to the Worcester train station. I didn't want to have to adjust to a Plan D. I will take the commuter train from Worcester to Boston early Wednesday morning to catch Amtrak to DE. This is the temporary platform at the station as they are in the midst of a major remodel.
Sitting in the bay window at Ron & Gail's kitchen table I am drawn into a fairy world, one I never see in Colorado.
a new england phenomena
morning suspension of water droplets
low lying cloud
shrouding the forest
condensation
a reminder of my new england roots
filtered daylight peeking through
its tenuous
strangely solid
while dancing in its murkiness
over the forest floor
a reprieve from darkness
inching higher
to light the day
i am far from my home
colorado
dry
invigorating
waking to a day of memories
shrouded in fog
WEDNESDAY
...the train is a keeper.
The early morning wake up was a bit harsh; being retired I rarely have to jump out of bed and into the shower. I rarely have to have my coffee prepped in the pot, on speed dial. But Ron and Gail had to do a quick drive by and drop at the train station in Worcester.
My first train was the commuter train to from Worcester to Boston. The price was right and even better than I thought. Sr. ticket was only $6! Far cheaper than the $85+ for a shuttle service. It wasn't crowded as I thought it might be, but with each stop, more people came and went. We passed freight yards, apartment buildings, trains skimming by in the opposite direction, historic buildings, city scape, bill boards; all things unfamiliar in my world.
What a treat, the feeling of knowing I don't need to navigate, get on a highway, drive in 80mph traffic.... I plan to seek out train opinions from now on! I have learned a very important lesson though... think carefully about your luggage. My original plan had been to travel across country with 2 carry ons and a computer bag. NO! One bag and 'maybe' a computer bag. It's not the train stations where that matters, but on the train. I'm learning. Also, I am fortunate to have the same train start to stop. That's a gift.
There is cafe car, but I bought & brought some food along with me. I have the pleasure of a family dinner when I arrive in DE... a great day!
Seth met me at the train station and out to dinner with the gang... Seth & Kelly, Andy & Steph, Margaret & Ian... yummy dinner at Jessop's.
A quiet but delicious beginning to our day. Seth and Kelly made breakfast... fresh fruit and a glorious quiche... cheese, pesto, and ham. A great beginning to exploring the beaches of the area.
A quiet day with a bit of frivolity…miniature golf among a family of cheaters!
SATURDAY
Drive day from DE to MA. Passed the time telling some stories. Seth shared that his niece Grace has a friend in her preschool class whose parents name their kids after breakfast food. Can you begin to imagine bobbing named Pancake? I laugh just writing it. Poor kid!
A driving thought; reflection:
slowing down –
our world transitions
never staying the same
not always comfortable
requiring grace
grace from me
grace from you
grace for all
but i like how it was
i don’t want to change
help me see
walk with me
stay close
wrap me in compassion
in comfort
in love
help me see
my world as it is
make blessings feel like a gift
help me see
SUNDAY
A cool damp day. We went to church, took a great walk, read, relaxed and meandered our way through the day. This poem is about my visit east thus far. We all do life differently as individuals, couples, or families, but giving into being a team is what protected Russ and me as we walked a 10 year journey of Parkinson's. I pray the same for all.
What is a life of love and care and of being a couple? Things ARE easier when you walk together.
Today, Monday, I am up early having woken to a wet morning. I have been visiting with brothers/sister/ family. Everywhere I look I see that trying not to be in complete control is hard, but a true gift. By sharing life, the struggle can be soothed.
So coffee on my right, waiting for an infusion of energy to start my day I wrote down this thought. It's a poem of two... pulling together to walk an unknown journey. It's you, me, them, us...
growing -
they walked thru the hurt together
never leaving one another's side
they weren't afraid to look at their struggle together
they were afraid not to
and once again their love grew new roots
MONDAY - TUESDAY
A relaxing couple of days. There was reading, yummy food, a couple of long walks, lunch out, a visit to Tower Hill Botanical Gardens and glorying in the amazing outdoors of New England, a vastly different world than my corner of Colorado. All this luxury while those who live in southern US prepare for the onslaught of Hurricane Ian. Beauty and the Beast I'd say.