In Sunny Fla

[ellenkushner]

After all these years, you'd think I'd have learned to trust my Travel Luck - but it doesn't seem to work that way: I guess in my heart I believe that the luck occurs only as a direct result of the expense of exceptional worrying.

Hence, a complete tizzwa on RSD as I watched all JetBlue flights from JFK to Ft Myers being canceled on Tuesday, and then the first of Weds' flights also going down . . . still packing as I checked every, oh, 4-5 minutes to see if our 3:26pm one was off the boards (convinced that of course as soon as we got everything organized, only then would it be canceled).... But it stayed up, so I confirmed with the car service.  Which then failed to turn up.  5 minutes..... 10 minutes.... I called & they said car was slowed by snowbanks/traffic and would be another 10 minutes (oh, duhh!  it hadn't figured out to leave early?), which I had not allowed for  - and now, with no idea how the roads would be to the airport, no idea whether we had plenty of time or were cutting it close .... UP PULLS A CAB TO OUR BUILDING!  (This is not a rare occurrence for most of Manhattan - but we're off the main taxi paths, and always have to walk up 1 block to West End Ave to get one.)  It lets out our delightful neighbors, and I ask the guy, "Will you take us to JFK?" - knowing some of them would very much rather not.  "Of course!" he says brightly, and then proceeds to give us a tour of the Secret Back Roads of NYC When You Know the Way with no traffic & no snow (Hint:  You can cross the whole island at 155th St in only 5 lights) - cheerful conversation the whole way about his kid at B.U., his family in the Dominican Republic . . . and his amazing luck the day before, when everyone at the airports were frantic for cars, and he took a "short" - i.e. a passenger from JFK only into Queens, which nets cabbies a special ticket to get back first in line at the airport - and just as he was dropping her off, a guy on the corner was frantically waving a $100 bill, shouting, "This is yours if you get me to JFK in 20 minutes!" so the woman kindly got out early, and off they went . . . .The sun was shining brightly, the roads were clear, and it was clear to me that we had entered into his Luck Stream, and everything was flowing the way it ought to when the merits of your ancestors are doing you all some good.

We got to JFK in 40 minutes, with plenty of time for our flight (and a snack).  Which was still showing ON TIME departure - until 5 minutes before boarding, when they began announcing a 1.5-hr delay.  Which was OK, because we had Books.  And Magazines.  And iPhones.  Sat in the sunny terminal, then boarded & waited until the poor extra flight attendant arrived from Jamaica, cleared customs, got on the plane (there was applause), and off we went, eating all the Healthy Junk Food that JetBlue provides.  Brother & cousin Bill picked us up & drove us to Sanibel, where we've been happily ensconced with various family members coming & going (and sharing their rum and groceries with us) ever since.

This morning, the sun came out.

I hope you are enjoying something good, wherever you are - and that the New Year brings you just enough celebration, a great deal of luck, and all the energy & support you need to do your best and most fulfilling work.

Comments

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Lovely! :D

[coppervale.livejournal.com]

And best wishes to you too, dear Ellen, for an excellent New Year.

Your Christmas present ought to be there when you get home. ;)

[jess-ka.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's a lovely wish. :)

[csecooney.livejournal.com]

That was a fine Travelin' Luck ye had on ye! Surely some winged sandaled god was grinnin' at ye!

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

The cabbies who know the Secret Back Roads are like magicians! I went to Logan once with one who got me there in half the time every other cabbie ever has, and he must have used a wormhole to do it. I have never been able to figure out his route. He avoided every major road in the area and the bridges and tunnels. I remember red brick warehouse and factory buildings with old rail lines near water ... typical residential streets... no signs, of course... and suddenly the airport.

Hope you get in some good beachcombing while you're down there! Beaches are so interesting in winter when the waves tumble up new stuff to play with.

[rubygirl29.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year and may the good luck follow you and Delia through 2011!

[gows.livejournal.com]

his amazing luck the day before, when everyone at the airports were frantic for cars, and he took a "short" . . . so the woman kindly got out early, and off they went

This is all kinds of awesome.

Now I wonder what kind of Healthy Junk Food JetBlue serves.