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Top Ten Reasons to Love Traveling

Top Ten Reasons to Love Traveling

by | Mar 24, 2015 | Out and About, Top Ten Tuesday

air travelLast week’s top ten list was all about what drives me crazy about air travel. But now that I’m home after a wonderful trip, here are then things I love about traveling.

10. When your top-heavy suitcase tips over and bends the handle so badly it won’t slide into place anymore, nice strangers might do what’s necessary to force the handle into it’s slot.

9.  The nice strangers might also say that under no circumstances should you try to pull the handle out again. Which means someone has a good reason to get new luggage!

8.  When you travel to a conference, chances are good you’ll meet walking buddies willing to get up early for a tromp by the ocean to watch a magnificent sunrise.

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7.  Discovering that for some mysterious reason, you’ve been TSA approved for the entire trip. No long lines. No taking out the zipper bag of liquids and gels. No removing shoes. No strip search.

6. Which means there’s plenty of time to get some really good coffee, sit down, and enjoy it.

5. Discovering that for some mysterious reason, you get to board in Zone 1 or Zone 2 for the entire trip. (I wonder if the stink made after last springs highly unsatisfactory USA Airways experience landed me on their don’t-mess-with-her-she’s-crazy-so-give-her-preferential-treatment list.)

4. Boarding the plane and finding that, for some mysterious reason, (See #6 for possible explanation) your seat is right behind first class, which means you get extra leg room even though you didn’t play extra for it.

3. Feeling smug sitting right behind first class, because even though you only get to smell the food served to first class customers, you realize your closest exit is the one in front, which means that if there’s an emergency you’ll get to crash the first class party. Free. Of. Charge.

2. Seeing an inch or two of new snow on the ground in Philadelphia during a lay over and not having to go outside.

1. Discovering that for some mysterious reason (see #6 for possible explanation), though the flight crew said the plane was completely full, the only empty seat on the plane is next to you. Right behind first class. With extra leg room already. With N-A-P written all over the entire 3 hour trip. Ahhh!

What makes you love to travel? Leave your comment in the box.

Top Ten Similarities Between Flight Delays & Special Needs Parenting

Top Ten Similarities Between Flight Delays & Special Needs Parenting

by | Apr 15, 2014 | Top Ten Tuesday

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A week ago Sunday, my flight home from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines was cancelled. According to the airline (see photo for a hint as to which one), they could not put together a flight crew. The airline rebooked my flight for the next day, and in the 17 hours until it departed, I had oodles of time to come up with these 10 similarities between flight delays and raising kids with special needs.

10.  Unexpected expenses pop up all the time and everywhere.

9.    Sleep deprivation is an integral part of each circumstance.

8.    In both cases, it’s wise to pray first, speak second, and then pray some more.

7.   Parents and passengers learn very quickly that are not in control.

6.   Flexibility is essential, not optional.

5.   Both parents and passengers learn to bite their tongues.

4.   Once the dust settles and their tongues have healed, parents and passengers need to advocate for better treatment. (My letter of complaint went out in Saturday’s mail. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes.)

3.   Both situations are rife with rudeness and unexpected grace.

2.   They are both cauldrons in which deep and lasting friendships form.

1.   Two crucial elements can transform these potential negatives into positives: a sense of humor and a spirit of forgiveness.

What would you add to the list? Leave a comment.

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