Letting go of the past is sometimes the toughest thing to do for most people. I would say it’s tougher than choosing the person you’re supposed to marry. I was in Chicago again, for work this time. I never ever thought I would hear the phrase, “It’s too cold outside to snow.” It was 2 degrees Farenheit. Brrrrrr.
Still suffering from a week old cold, which I think I caught back in Vegas, I struggled onto the Monday morning flight. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? I brought it back with me apparently. I plopped down into my seat next to a guy who had a hard look about him. He was on his way home. See, the severe winter does that to some people. They develop these shells and even though they don’t mean to show it physically, it’s quite apparent. Explains a lot about certain people that were in my life in the past.
I had just convinced the flight attendant that I was “Okay” to fly that morning, not true. I was just recovering from the cold, not true. I was just going to be there for a day or two, again, not true. It was definitely the crooked smile and dark sunglasses I had on that did the trick, or I hope.
I lay in bed, with Tylenol Flu Nighttime in my system trying to fall asleep. I thought I was going to die. I heard a bang on the wall; I think my coughing was keeping the person in the next room awake. I tossed and turned and I could not fall asleep. I had the same routine for four consecutive nights: go to work in the morning, struggle, come back to the hotel, eat the same room service dinner, fall asleep, wake up at approximately 3 AM coughing, fall back asleep; Not fun.
Each night it progressively got worse. The dinner was the part that I wasn’t looking forward to. See, I had recently decided to turn vegetarian. Well, not completely. I would still have seafood, but eventually I plan to cut that out of my diet as well. So far, it’s been two weeks. Two tough weeks. Did I mention that this week was the toughest since I was sick and I couldn’t leave the hotel to go get anything different? Janet, the lady who answered the phone for room service, knew me by name after the second night.
“Good Evening Mr. Pardasani, we have the same menu as last night, would you like me to ask the Chef what he can prepare for you tonight?”
“Yes please.”
How convenient.
She was so pleasant. By the time Thursday rolled around, I just had to do something different. One of my friends from Miami had moved to Chicago and was in the area. He stopped by and we had dinner downstairs at the “Harvest Grill”.
“Hi, my name is Janet are you having dinner with us tonight?”
Who woulda thunk it, the same lady that answered my phone earlier was the one taking me to my table here. Have you ever sat and tried to picture what people’s appearances are, over the phone, according to their voice? Bad decision. I had pictured a lady in her 30’s, maybe, recently married, a young daughter, and short and slim. I met, a lady in her 40’s, gray hair, reeking of smoke, 40 pounds overweight and 6 foot plus.
I sat and chatted with Tom about many business ventures that we could concentrate on over the next couple of months. See, he is the kind of person I would think would apply for a spot on the show “The Apprentice”. He gets it done. I’ve got ideas, he’ll find a way to get them implemented.
Monday - Salmon with asparagus
Tuesday - Salmon with mashed potatoes (not bad)
Wednesday - Linguine with Salmon (made by the chef just for me - VERY GOOD)
Thursday - Fish and chips (yuck)
Friday - TGIF !!!!!! (Airplane food)
So I’m supposed to fly back to Miami on Saturday. I wanted to spend Friday night in the city hanging out with Tom and Jason. Jason just got back from Vegas a couple of days ago … and apparently had a blast. I was going to meet up with him to catch up. I think God just wanted me back in Miami as soon as possible because as I was about to pack my luggage on Friday to head to the city, I received a call from American Airlines.
“Mr. Pardasani…?”
“This is he.”
“We regret to inform you that your flight for tomorrow has been cancelled.”
Shit. This was the only word orbiting inside my brain. I was trying to change my flight to Friday earlier in the week because I wanted nothing more than to be home for the weekend. Unfortunately it was costing me about $500 to change my date of departure. Screw that. Here I am faced with the same dilemma.
“Oh no, we are now allowing passengers to change their flights without any cost so that they can get home before the storm arrives tomorrow.”
“Thank you Lord! When can you get me out?”
“Today at 5:50 PM we have a flight and I will upgrade you to First Class at no charge.”
Was this finally my break I had been asking Him for all week? I was suffering with this cold all week, entrapped in my hotel room, eating the same food, and now a break? I’ll take it! :-)
I called Tom, cancelled our plans for the night and made plans to hang out in Miami next time he was down. Called Jason and cancelled going to a Bulls game, yea I’m a HUGE Bulls fan. I’ll get another chance. Plus Jason and I have plans to go backpacking through Europe sometime soon so hopefully that will happen!
Time check: 2:30 PM. Flight time 5:50 PM.
Packed my luggage in a hurry, got a late checkout last night just because I knew today was going to be a rough day.
“I need to get to the city, the quickest possible way.”
“Sir, you can take the Blue Line to the city and it will cost you maybe $1.75 or you can take a cab and it will cost you about $30″
“Which is quicker?”
“I think a cab should be quicker, plus you will get to go exactly where you need to go. I’m on a budget so I would take the train”
“Please get me a cab, I need to get to the city as fast as possible.”
Was I crazy? I love shopping. Have you ever shopped on Michigan Avenue? Heaven! My cab driver was awesome…. I reached Salvatorre Feregamo and told him I wanted him to meet me outside of Aldo in 30 minutes.
Time check: 2:57 PM
I walked into the store and knew exactly what I had come in to get. I had received a gift about two years ago, a wallet. It was from this same designer. It has to be one of the best gifts I have ever been given. Thank you. I decided it was time for a change. Where did I start again? “Letting go of he past is sometimes the toughest thing to do for most people.” I picked out this beautiful brown leather wallet, paid for it and continued with my speed shopping.
Time check: 3:13 PM
I stepped into Burberry for a minute and there was nobody available to assist me, so, I left.
Walked into Aldo and I was in my zone. I love shoes. My motto is, if your feet don’t feel good … then the rest of you doesn’t. Most therapists would agree with me because every time I go to a massage therapist and they work on my feet, the rest of me automatically feel good.
I ended up trying on about four pairs of shoes and buying one. I bought a pair of Aldo boots. I don’t own a pair of black boots yet, now I did. I walked out of the store and there was my cab, waiting.
What a wonderful world.
Not only did I make it back to my hotel to pick up my luggage on time, but also I made it back to catch the hotel shuttle to the airport. Thank you cabby!
Waiting for my flight to depart I ended up at the bar. The old lady behind the bar asked me for my ID and I was honored. I love people carding me. Makes me feel like I am 18 again. Not that I’m old or anything. Had a Sam Adams and a basket of fries. I can’t say that this was the healthiest of trips I have taken but definitely it was worth it.
I sat there and I re-collected all of the happenings for the week. It was definitely a week of letting go of the past. Did you know that sometimes when bad emotions are kept suppressed, they find their way out of your system one way or another? I definitely felt like this was the case this past week. I was in Chicago, close to Indiana, every movement and breath I took reminded me of my past. I dread coming to this part of the world. I can go as far as to say I HATE it. Orlando is another one but we will leave that for another time.
Changing my wallet seems like such a trivial thing to most people, three hours later it has already made a tremendous difference in my life. My flu seems to be going away finally. Maybe my emotions found their way out that way? I definitely feel better. My thoughts are headed in a more positive direction. My outlook on life is a lot better.
I’m coming home Miami.
Ciao