Itinerary
January 11th, 2011 § 7 Comments
Day Eleven: Jan. 11, 2011
Last night as I finished packing up my chargers, my phone went off with an email alert. That in itself is nothing odd, but when the notification told me it was my personal account, I got a little worried. Given the late hour, I knew it couldn’t be good. Then I saw the subject line.
FLIGHT CANCELLATION IMPACTING CAITLIN MEALS
“No!” I thought to myself. Surely, nothing would get in between me and my beloved New York City. We’d planned this trip months ago, Carrie and I, and looming winter weather disasters threatened its fate. I spent the next hour and 51 minutes cradling two phone lines. On the end of one, my saddened traveling companion, the other the speakerphoned voice of Rosalee the airline agent running through the laundry list of options for us. It didn’t look good for Tuesday. If we postponed until Wednesday, we’d be in New York less than 24 hours and still have some cancellations to make. Knowing that the weather was headed that way, we didn’t feel it was in our best interest to risk it and get stuck there.
I sat at my Dad’s oversized desk, one small overhead light casting its glow on the yellow paper I scribbled confirmation numbers onto all the while thinking, “What about New York?” This was meant to be an exciting trip for my wonderful friend to try on wedding dresses. We planned to have French coffee at our favorite bistro for breakfast, walk the streets, shop our little hearts out and just get away. We’d both been looking forward to it all, working like mad, counting down the days. What about New York?
As it stands, I will still be visiting my beloved Carrie, only I’ll be traveling solely to Pittsburgh, arriving Wednesday. I’ve been rebooked, recharged and reignited with hope that I will make it back North, received with open arms and a great deal of love. I’m excited to see many other familiar – and missed – faces, too.
Still, I can’t help but curse Mother Nature for ruining our plans. I was looking forward to a jolt of inspiration. I wanted to break in my boots in Chelsea. I longed to breathe in New York winter for the very first time.
You know me; I’m chalking this up to some crazy twist of fate – to some unknown reason why God didn’t want us there. Today will be filled with more cancellation calls and a heavy heart. It’s likely that I’ll shuffle around the house in my pajamas, drinking way too much coffee, looking out the window into my snow-free world asking myself, What about New York?
I know it will still be there when the replacement trip is planned and the next round of flights are booked. I know it will still inspire me and encourage me and send me away with a fresh outlook. Still I can’t help but be disappointed, even if just for today, at the letdown of not feeling that spark, having that pep in my step and remembering how wonderful it feels to be in the one place that’s new and exciting, yet feels old and comfortable at the same time.
What about New York?
Another day…another time.
Road, Review, Renew
August 17th, 2010 § 6 Comments
As obvious as it may be to say, I have made it to Texas! I feel that this statement warrants an exclamation point because, well, it’s kind of a big deal, no? I mean 1,457 miles is no short jaunt of a move. The latter part of the drive post-Nashville was a long one. This was something I didn’t figure out until I started plugging in addresses to Google Maps. As I looked at the clock with regret Tuesday morning at 11 a.m., I told Alex we had about 12 hours of road between us and where we’d lay our heads to rest that night.
We set out to cover the rest of Tennessee, all of Arkansas and finally cross into Texas. After four veggie subs, an entire state without coffee, some really scary bathrooms and a gorgeous sunset, we got to Ft. Worth and crashed around 1 a.m. The next morning, we made the most of a hotel breakfast and hit the road. We rolled into my parents’ place in the early afternoon and unpacked my car. My Mum kept insisting I took a ‘before’ picture of my wreckage but really, I think I’m doing you all a favor by sparing you of just how much crap I hauled down here with me.
What I do have photos of, however, are some of the highlights throughout the rest of the trip. Without further ado…
After a day of exploring my new digs and nearly melting approximately nine times, we took the afternoon Friday to go see Eat Pray Love. Now, I know there are critics out there – both those who make a living as one and those who simply have an opinion. Mine is pretty simple: I loved it. I read the book a few years ago right as it began to get popular and I loved it, too. Many of the details had faded in my memory and that was OK with me. I knew the premise. I’m sure many women went out and read the book in the weeks leading up to the movie’s release and were disappointed to see the plot line change.
People, c’mon. How many books stay true to their 120 minutes on film? It’s very rare and nearly impossible for a story to translate into a movie. I mean, Elizabeth Gilbert’s story would have taken hours to portray accurately. Perhaps it’s because I am in the midst of such a transition in my life, but I really got a lot out of it. I choked back tears of understanding, gratitude and cope throughout a great deal of the film. There was a lot of talk about pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, taking risks and chances and figuring things out for and about yourself. There was also a delicious pizza and some crave-worthy fries.
As I sat in the chilly theater, I pulled my sweater around me in a pseudo hug, wiping away single warm tears past my curls. I told myself it was OK to be moved but that it wasn’t necessary to have a complete breakdown in the dark. I felt inspired and compelled and as cliché and trite as it may seem, I felt a bit consoled. Sure, Elizabeth Gilbert’s story is rare and one in a million. I don’t have any immediate plans to put my life on hold for a year and travel the world (although if anyone would care to sponsor that, I wouldn’t object) but I do have plans to do something great with my life. As scary as it is, I’m looking at this move and decision to relocate half way across the country as a gift to myself. It’s a delicate gift. One that must be opened slowly. There’s no need to rush through it – though I desperately want nothing other than that. I’m looking at this time to focus solely on myself and discover what it is I really want. I’ve never had the opportunity to be quite as unattached from responsibility and social commitments so I’ve decided now is as good a time as any.
Those tears were not the last. I woke up Saturday morning and made a beeline to the freezer where two ice packs awaited their fate atop my eyes to bring down the swelling. They stung my cheeks again as I hugged Alex goodbye for the fifth time at the airport and drove away knowing my life was about to take a major turn and that I was without a friend beside me every day for the first time in years.
Thankfully, I have a wonderful support system right under my roof, at the touch of a button on my phone and a click away on the Internet. There are so many people who have helped me get to where I am today; standing at the brink of this road where so many opportunities and adventures await. There is however, only one person who could have helped me make the actual trip and transition in such a smooth and calm way.
I have talked about how wonderful of a friend this woman is to me, but spending eight days non-stop with her has truly solidified it in my heart. It’s amazing what I have learned and gained from this blogging community – but I count my blends (blogger friend = blend) as the biggest blessing of all. At the end of the day, it can be hard to keep up with everything and everyone but I believe no matter how often you press publish, how many tweets you send, how many comments you receive, once you’re in this community, you’re in and a part of something so life-changing and wonderful you can never imagine your life without it.
Did you see Eat Pray Love? What did you think of it?
Have you been part of something bigger that changed your life? How?
Road Signs
August 10th, 2010 § 11 Comments
Hello from Nashville!
We’ve been going solid for three days now – at this time tomorrow we will be in Austin! Yep, that’s right, I brought along a friend.
My – very near and dear to my heart – blend, Alex!
This lovely lady arrived in the States last Saturday to attend a very special wedding and make the multi-state trek with me. What’s been even more fun than having her around is watching people’s reactions when I’ve told them the story of how we actually never met until a few days ago. They’re all, “Huh?” and I’m all “Yup! Welcome to 2010. Glad to have you join us.” If nothing else, this community has brought into my life some fabulous people whom, I swear, don’t pack axes, guns or torture devices of any kind in their suitcases when they travel to meet you.
Saturday we got all dolled up and headed to the historic Warner Theater in Erie, Pennsylvania, to watch my cousin get married in a throwback ’40s wedding.
To say this wedding was on point would not be giving it enough credit. Every little detail of the ceremony and reception was beautiful and obviously very well thought-out. Yours truly had the honor of being the first face everyone saw as they collected their “tickets” which were place cards to the tables inside. The bridal party was decked out in wingtip shoes, pearls and gorgeous hairstyles that would rival something in Mad Men. The centerpieces boasted beautiful Stargazer Lilies and ostrich feathers. People, It. Was. To. Die. 
After all that beauty, we were faced with this monstrosity.
Luckily, everything fit. Including what my Dad will tell you is the best part of Pennsylvania (that you can’t get in Texas).
For the next 10 hours, we drank copious amounts of coffee.
And rocked it out.
Yesterday, another dear sweet friend acted as our tour guide around Music City.
Maggie is one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of friends. We met the day she moved into the dorms at college and have been great pals ever since. Having gone into the same field, she is someone who truly gets it when it comes to having a passion for something that seems almost impossible to make a living from.We have racked up hours of minutes offering support from states away over the years and yet we just pick up right where we left off with each visit.
Apparently we missed the memo that yesterday was Melt Yo Face Off Nashville 2010. Regardless, we saw the sights and heard the sounds that make up this great city. It’s hard to believe so much of it was destroyed by flooding just a few months ago.
To me, Nashville boasts something in the way of a magical feeling. Having grown up in a small town dreaming big city dreams, I can identify with the people who come here in hopes of fame and success. As I sat on a bar stool in one of the honky tonks, feet dangling high above the worn wooden floors, I couldn’t help but take it all in. Within those notes that sang country classics, Sugarland covers and original tunes was something more. I’d like to be cliché and say it was hope and determination and dreams. I’d like to make this all wrap up in some romantic way and tell you that I felt like everything became completely clear. Instead I’ll tell you that it gave me a good feeling – some reassurance, yes, but not the be-all-end-all-moment of clarity. Perhaps it was more like a sign on a long stretch of highway, letting its traveler know how much area there was left to cover and offering some relief. The number may seem high and daunting until I reach my destination, but at least I know I am still on the right road.
Thanks, Nashville.
Adding good to good
January 5th, 2010 § 7 Comments
Oh, hello friends – I have not forgotten you! I hope you enjoyed my last post and that the first five days of 2010 have been nothing short of wonderful for you. My craziest week of work wrapped up and I’ve been regrouping my thoughts and mind. Now I’m fully geared up for the year ahead! As promised, I am going to recap December to Remember and share New Year’s Resolutions.
First, to recap my goals:
1.) Drink at least 64 ounces of water every.single.day. Well y’all, I wish I could say I took this goal by the horns and bronco-ed it out of the bullpen, but sadly I did not. I got tons of great suggestions of ways to increase my intake, but I know I am still dehydrated. I am getting better at remembering and actually drinking as often as I can, it’s just a matter of me being absent-minded about it. This is still an on-going goal for the year (and, well, my life.)
2.) Donate to charity. Aside from the usual contributions made through every day purchases, this too was an epic fail. However, I have some super exciting charity news to share in the upcoming weeks as soon as details are ironed out that totally makes up for my lack of it in December.
3.) Take time for me. Now, call me selfish, but this is the one I have had the most success with. Don’t get me wrong, homegirl still kept it social, only it wasn’t so run-run-run try to please everyone. I made decisions as a compromise between pleasing myself and others. Y’all it felt good. I think I put too much pressure on myself to be everything to everyone. Slap me with some starred panties and call me Lynda Carter – sometimes I think I can do it all. Class, this is also known as “Superwoman Syndrome.”
4.) Continue and adopt more smart spending habits. Here is another one I had success with and I can thank my Kenmore refrigerator for a large part of that. Yes, Chase is still iced out in the freezer. I’ve continued to think and re-think purchases and spend more wisely. I’ve been scouting sales and specials and cutting coupons. I’ve been without the skinny jeans and high boots I so admire every other woman I see. And ya know what? I’m still alive.
5.) Shake up my workouts. Sadly, yoga and I have not reunited – yet. The instructor I adore only teaches a few times a week and with the busiest time of my year just passed, I let this go to the back burner. Fear not, January will shake things up….
..Which leads me to…resolutions!
I may have mentioned before I am not someone who’s exactly big on resolutions. While I think it’s great to have goals and things to strive toward, having all of them culminate on one day is a bit daunting. For me, it’s also a sure-fire backfire. Every monumental change I’ve made in my life in 2009 just happened. Let me rephrase: it happened because I wanted it to. I quit smoking. I started running. I took control of my spending and finances. Were these things I wanted for myself last December? Absolutely. But it doesn’t take the turn of a calendar page to entice me to change. It just takes waking up on some idle Tuesday morning, feeling it in my heart and thinking, “OK let’s do it.”
In recent weeks, I have slowly started to get myself into some habits I’d like to make a part of 2010. You call them resolutions, I call them life improvements. Tomato, to-mah-toe.
* Cook. As in, real meals, from scratch, from this ancient device called a recipe book. Considering I got three great ones for Christmas and I have several others collecting dust in my pantry, I have decided this is the year I will actually purchase things at the grocery store that can be combined together to make a meal. Amazing concept, no? I have already been successful with this and had the most delightful time making a categorized list of items to tackle my supermarket Sunday. Speaking of, a bit of trivia for you. Did you know all of the “essential” items for daily consumption are found around the perimeter of an average grocery store? Think about it: produce, dairy, meat, bread. (And if you go to mine, also magazines, which I consider to be essential.) It’s when you venture down those aisles that you can get in trouble.
*Run a Half Marathon. I’ve mentioned this a few times and quite frankly, even typing it scares me. I know it’s going to take a lot of work but I really enjoy the thrill and challenge of training. Doing 13.1 miles is really stepping up my game so I plan to incorporate lots of cross-training. I’m looking into swimming, spinning and hot yoga while it’s still sub-zero out. Once I can properly breathe without having to thaw my lungs out post-run, I’ll be hittin’ the streets of the City with my trusty Garmin Forerunner. After all, you’ve got to have a dream to make a dream come true.
*Plan and take a big vacation. The destination is unknown, but the last time I took a big trip – as in more than a long weekend with girlfriends or visiting family for the holidays – was before I graduated college, and even then it wasn’t lavish. I’m talking six of us slept on two beds pushed together at a Red Roof Inn and drank on the beach all day. I’d say I’m long overdue.
*Continue writing and give my blog more love. This may, and will, mean many things in the upcoming months. While I would love to find a way to make a living writing, I know the harsh reality after working in the business. Anyone who’s flipped on CNN in the past, um decade, knows the state of the economy and the writing/journalism world is taking the blunt end of it. I’m looking into a domain name, adding more to the site and posting more often. I also need to join the rest of the century and subscribe to blogs with Google Reader and master my Gmail to organize my life. As much as I lurve the Internet, I can be a bit slow hesitant to pick up on the ways it can make my life easier. I’d also really love to attend a blogger conference this year -BlogHer 2010 NYC anyone?
So folks, there you have it. I’m sure things will be modified along the way. I’m sure I’ll be adding more goals for myself in the next 12 months. I’m sure I’ll struggle. I’m sure I’ll succeed. Thanks for joining me on the ride.
