My luggage is lost. I won’t point fingers, but someone I know is praying for God to heal Air France. And I agree. The good news it that my guitar made it through. I was worried about it because I forgot to loosen the strings, but in the end, all was well. Just no luggage. So here I am. I have a toothbrush. No make-up, just some lip-gloss. I guess that takes off all the pressure of what I am going to wear every day. It will be these jeans, this blue shirt, these socks and these boots. And this face.

My flight arrived about 40 minutes after Pastor Jim and Rachel got in, but when I got through customs and into the area to pick up my luggage they are still standing by their carousel waiting for their bags to come through. Now I’m waiting here hoping that maybe my stuff will come. Another kind young passenger discovers me and a few others who had transferred in Paris. All of us have missing baggage. So they translate for me and help me fill out the lost and found forms.

I’m staying with Maria. Jim and Rachel are staying elsewhere. We are so tired that we decide to nap, eat supper, then go back to sleep. They feed me like crazy for supper. And they are pretty aggressive about it. Extra meat is placed on my bread as I raise it to my mouth, and other things offered right in my face as if they are going to feed me themselves.

I feel so bad when I look on the counter and see “American products” which I assume they’ve bought for me to make me feel at home. Cereal and milk. I ant to eat their food. . . that is, unless I don’t like it. We’re eating meat, cheese, bread, chocolate, macaroons, tea. They are shoving food at me and I’m full. I close my eyes and shake my head, making “uh-uh” sounds. I open my eyes. They all look a little bit surprised, but no more food is being proffered towards me.

I go to my bed. It’s a couch. Nice and wide. A crib with baby toys in it is by my head. Ceiling high storage against the wall, a tv, stacks of books, a mirror and low table dresser… this I someone’s room. Maria’s I guess. I think she lives alone. And I’m wearing her pajama’s. I have none. This is very funny to me. I am wearing a Ukrainian Babushka’s nighty. Good night.

Comments

sue baby said…
Ah the luggage...seams to be a trend these days. Only ours was Air Canada. On the way back from Vermont our 1st flight was cancelled altogether the 2nd one was 21/2 hours late which made us miss the connecting flight in Toronto to Vancouver. We were told we were re booked for the next day and we had to say no not good enough we need to be at a wedding. So they accomodated us on another flight altogether which was good except their was no luggage waiting for us in Vancouver. After spending time in a looong lineup we at least knew our luggage was still in Toronto. Along with camera equipment I needed for the wedding. Such fun this travelling that we never get to do and then when we do.. ah well such is life.

The wedding went on without my nice flash and we finally got our luggage 3 days after the fact. We think we will just stay home from here on in.
7:39 AM
motherearth said…
dearest Heidi- now I can`t think of anything wonderful to write-seeing I was NOT a blogger before-all my amazing comments disappeared into thin air- so let me think- mmmmm-I felt like I had snuck into your room and have read your diary-your writing is fantastic-love your humor-just wondering- did I miss parts about what you did there??
11:25 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MAKING SENSE OF ANXIETY - A COURSE by GORDON NEUFELD - PART 1 IN A SERIES ON ANXIETY

Image
I've read the word "anxiety" a million times on facebook and instagram. I've heard plenty of friends tell me their kids struggle with anxiety. I've even (sorry) rolled my eyes at conversations where people used the phrase "my anxiety is so bad"... because I thought they were being weak. Again. Sorry.  I had NO CLUE what anxiety was or where it came from.  Then my daughter's behavior started changing and the word anxiety started coming up.  So I watched  Gordon Neufeld’s course: “Making Sense of Anxiety.” For the full course, check it out from the library or view his 60 minute talk here .  Here is what I've learned.  Anxiety isn’t bad. It’s basically our relationship to being alarmed.  We need attachment. Facing separation alarms us. BUT this is a normal part of human development. This is the way the brain was meant to develop. So good news.  Alarm is HEALTHY. Anxiety is NORMAL.  Gordon Neufeld...
Read more

AN INTERVIEW WITH AUSTIN - PART 2 IN A SERIES ON ANXIETY

Image
When I was growing up, I had a little buddy named Austin. He was super intense. It seems like his whole body would vibrate with intensity and he would pace back and forth when he talked. He talked non-stop about movies and agonized over whether he would take a role in a movie if the director required him to swear.  I thought he was so unique and honestly, awesome and hilarious. His mom would tell me stories about how he’d have meltdowns every day before school saying he “hated his stupid pants, and hated his stupid shoes” etc, and how he was terrified of kids with special needs.  None of us knew anything about anxiety. When Austin was turning 9, I made him a birthday card that turned into a book - it was about a boy who lost his “nine”  on his birthday - only to realize, it was a dream and nothing to really fear. Looking back and considering what I’m learning about anxiety, I find my story for Austin uncanny.  Unhealthy anxiety in kids is always based on a s...
Read more
The other day, I heard a grandfather speak of his grandson’s death with more honesty than ever I have heard. And it shocked me. He said, “My grandson, you know, he was not a good boy, he was a rebellious boy. He had a good heart, but he was rebellious.” It was a little bit hard to hear. I’m so used to hearing that we only lose the ones that the world is not worthy of. Amazing. I remember hearing a story about this family who’s son got into gangs and drugs. Mafia I guess. Eventually the son got killed. The police were familiar with him. He’d caused a lot of trouble to the community at large. But when he died, the family paid (or arranged for.. however it’s done) for a 2 page full write up of their son, stating how he was such a good boy and had lived such a good life. The next day a public outcry arose and letters flooded the newspaper, denouncing the man. Again, a full two page write up. But this time not so positive. Either his family was full of lies or they were unable to accept rea...
Read more