Recently I flew to Chicago to attend my grandmother’s funeral. Her death had come quickly and unexpectedly despite her age and worsening dementia over the last few years. So, when I received the sad news that she had passed, I quickly made plans to fly to Chicago to be with my family, mourn her death and celebrate her life.
When I travel, I have typically do lots of reading and planning beforehand so the build up of excitement is quite palpable (see my previous post). But because I was traveling to the place where I grew up to go to a funeral, there was no pre-trip reading or planning, no giddiness, no exotic sights to see or fun excursions planned. Don’t get me wrong – I was very glad to see my family and grateful that I could take the time from work to be together with them at this difficult time. But, given the nature of the trip, I didn’t have that giddy-going-on-a-trip feeling, a feeling brought on by Travel Mojo.
For me, Travel Mojo is a wily little fella who has seen me through some potentially rough or precarious situations while traveling. Travel Mojo also serves an important function: it can, if needed, trick the brain into not being so bothered by all the little things that can go wrong on a trip. Plane delayed? Missed your connection? Hotel lost your reservation? Italian B and B owner who speaks very little English not there to pick you up at remote train station as planned and your cell phone just died? Travel Mojo can help you deal with it with grace, style, and a little snarky wit.
This is how I picture my Travel Mojo
As I boarded the plane for Chicago, I didn’t seem to have Travel Mojo with me this time and I was a bit worried. I wondered if it was hiding underneath my grief and if it would soon appear since things always seemed to go better with Travel Mojo.
Thankfully, the flight to Chicago was uneventful and I was lucky to have the seat next to me stay empty. Given the sadness I felt at saying goodbye to my grandmother, things continued to go smoothly throughout the week. The sun was shining on the day of the funeral, long lost relatives appeared and reconnected, and I got to spend some time with my family. Travel Mojo? Divine intervention by my grandmother? A little of both? Not sure, but I was grateful for it all nonetheless.
All too soon, it was time to head home to the west coast. Because I was in the last group to board the plane, there was no more room in the cabin for my carry-on suitcase by the time I got to my seat. For those who don’t know me well yet, I carefully pack my beloved Rick Steves carry-on suitcase so I DON’T have to check a bag. Annoyed and frustrated at the lack of space in the overhead bins (& quite frankly, at the airline for assigning me to the last boarding group), I started down an ugly path of uncalled-for snarkiness when I suddenly felt a twinge of Travel Mojo start to kick in: Hey, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like you’re at the beginning of a trip and could end up somewhere without your suitcase. You’ll be fine. I could tell Travel Mojo was trying hard to break through all of the irritation about the lack of space and the sadness I was feeling at the loss of my grandmother. Still, I fretted about the ticket agent swooping in and taking my bag from me.
My beloved suitcase
When I arrived in San Francisco for my connecting flight and saw that my next flight was cancelled, I really needed to have my Travel Mojo kick in full force. I quickly made my way over to the customer service counter where I joined the swarm of irate people queue to see if I could get on the next flight home that evening. Unfortunately, I had to be rebooked on a flight at an unGodly hour the next morning. Handing my baggage claim ticket to the Customer Service Lady (CSL), I explained that I needed to retrieve my bag that I had checked in Chicago. Here’s what happened next:
Me: But my bag was ON the plane when the ticket lady tagged it and then gave it to the baggage guy who, incidentally, was also ON THE PLANE. What do you mean it’s still in Chicago?
CSL: That’s what it says here (pointing to computer). There are hourly flights between Chicago and here, so it should arrive sometime this evening.
Me: But I need my bag since I’m being held captive I have to stay in here overnight. Should I wait for it here in the airport?
CSL, amused by my pathetic attempt to get my bag returned in a timely fashion: Hahaha. No, your bag will be waiting here for your flight tomorrow morning. Sorry, there’s nothing more I can do. Go down to Baggage Services and fill out a lost bag form just in case it doesn’t make it.
Me, taking deep breaths so I don’t strangle CSL, to myself: O.k., Travel Mojo, this would be a real good time to bring on your soothing presence and keen wit.
Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. I wasn’t feeling it.
It looked like I was on my own this time.
Completely baffled by this turn of events and growing ever more disgruntled, I took my new boarding pass and trudged downstairs. I handed my claim ticket to Baggage Services Lady (BSL).
BSL, pointing to her computer screen: Alrighty, it says right here that your bag was scanned in Chicago and it arrived in San Francisco on your flight so it should be here. Go look over there. (Points to silent baggage carousel with a few sad, lonely bags on it.)
My heart filled with hope as raced towards the carousel, hope that is usually reserved for things like “You probably don’t need to have that root canal after all”. But it’s quickly dashed when I don’t see my suitcase anywhere.
BSL: Well, it may be in this other obscure, dank, dark place where luggage goes to perish ends up. Let me call. (Dials number) “Oh hi! Yes, it’s Kimberly. Hey, how’s it going? Really? Haha. Oh, I know. Were you on break? No? Me neither. Did you watch the Bachelor last night? (Finally notices the “Are you KIDDING me? ” look from me.) So anyway, I was calling to see if you have a bag down there. (Brief pause.) No? O.k. Thanks.” (Hangs up phone.) It’s not there. Fill out this form and it will be delivered to your house.
Me: Wait a minute. You just said it had ARRIVED in San Francisco, that it’s HERE.
BSL, regarding me with annoyance: Small bags like yours are really hard to track, you know, because they’re so small.
Rick Steves would never be caught in a situation like this, I think bitterly.
Me: It’s not like it’s a coin purse or a wallet. It’s a suitcase, hefty and substantial. Can you look it up on the computer and see where it’s at in the airport?
BSL: Finding small bags like those is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, let me tell you. (Laughs at own joke.)
Me, clearly not amused: Is there any other place it can possibly be?
BSL, sighing: I guess it could be in the area where the Express flights are since that’s what you were going to be on tonight.
Me: Would you please call and check?
BSL, annoyed at my persistence, dials new number and lets it ring a few times before hanging up: Nope. No one’s there. They must be on break.
Me: I can wait a little bit until you can try again.
BSL, laughing at my apparently silly notion of short breaks: Hahahaha. That’s not necessary. It could be a few hours.
A few HOURS??? Who has a break that lasts a few hours?
Me: If you don’t mind, could you please try again in a few minutes?
BSL dials again, gets someone on the other line, her chattiness on the phone going way beyond pleasantries, warranting another “Are you KIDDING me” glare from me: She said it might be there, but she’s not sure, so go stand by that moving carousel over there and it may come down the chute. But I can’t promise anything.
Waiting for the needle in the haystack
After five long minutes of staring at the empty carousel go round and round, a low, faint rumbling sound comes from the chute followed by a stunning bright light and the sounds of a monastic choir singing. And then, barreling down the chute and clanging onto the carousel comes my trusty Rick Steves suitcase. After hugging my bag a little too enthusiastically for a public place, I nodded to no one in particular and smiled knowingly: Travel Mojo was looking out for me after all.
The next morning at an hour at which I am not used to being awake, I sat sipping my coffee at my gate and was trying to think of how I would publicly proclaim my annoyance about the previous day’s debacles on twitter and facebook when the ticket lady at the counter announces this:
“Ladies and gentlemen, air traffic control is not sure if the pilots will be able to land the plane at your destination. You may be diverted to another city and then placed on a bus that will drive for 4 1/2 hours on a winding road that is sure to make even the most hardy of you puke your guts out.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. A bus? Seriously? Was this some sort of sick joke? I sat there in a state of confusion trying to decide if I should stay with this flight or try for another one. And then, my Travel Mojo suddenly stepped in to protect my fragile state of mind. It said, “HAHAHAHAHA. Ticket Lady is FUNNY. SO FUNNY. HAHAHAHA. Like a monkey on a tricycle, right? HAHAHAHA. Funny Ticket Lady. Isn’t she so FUNNY?”
Did I mention Travel Mojo has a sense of humor?
In the end, I opted to take my chances on my original flight and fortunately for all involved, we were able to land. I can’t even put into words how immensely grateful I was that I didn’t have to take the nauseating bus ride.
As me and my Rick Steves rolled through the airport, I realized it didn’t seem so important anymore to complain about the mishaps from the day before. I reminded myself that I just flew -FLEW!- 2000 miles across the country, something people couldn’t do 100 years ago. I was able to stay in touch with my family on the west coast at the touch of a button. And, most importantly, I was able to say goodbye to my grandmother and be with my family at the funeral. And now I was safely home. Sure it took a little longer and was a little inconvenient (o.k., a LOT) but wasn’t it amazing that I live in a time when that was all possible? And more importantly, wasn’t that enough?
Again, Travel Mojo taught me some valuable lessons: It’s all about gratitude and attitude. Let go of some of your control issues. See – truly SEE – what’s in front of you. And before you know it, things will have a way of working out for the best.
Me: Truer words were never spoken by such a furry creature. Thanks, Travel Mojo.
Travel Mojo, a bemused smile beneath his fur, leaned in to hug me: See? Everything worked out just fine. Just like I said it would.
"It's all about gratitude and attitude." Hugs, Travel Mojo
Do you have Travel Mojo or something similar that helped out when you least expected it? Please share!
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April Plummer (@April_Plummer) said:
Can’t say I’ve ever been creative enough to recognize Travel Mojo or anything similar. LOL. Ironic then, that I’m a writer, huh? Anyway, I think I chalk it all up to God, when things work out when I least expect it. God working miracles through the people and events in our lives. He’s taught me those lessons you learned from your Travel Mojo…unfortunately, every once in awhile I need a reminder. Which is where YOU come in! So maybe, maybe I have some Blogger Mojo? 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
You definitely have some Blogger Mojo, April. 🙂 I think however we learn these important lessons it is a gift from whatever entity we believe they come from. I also think we all need reminders once in a while and today I was happy to oblige.
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Emmie Mears said:
Oh my goodness. I cannot for the life of me understand why agents at baggage counters manage to be that way all the time. You’d think mere chance would account for getting someone helpful at least part of the time. I guess they have to deal with people in varying stages of aggression all day long, and that could definitely sour their puss, but yeesh.
When I moved back to the States from Poland, I had a 21 hour journey planned. Krakow, Chicago, Denver, Missoula. My flight leaving Krakow was delayed over an hour. Yep. Missed my Chicago flight. They put us up in a hotel, rerouted me through Minneapolis, and sent me on my way. Before the flight to Minneapolis, Chicago got hit with a lightning storm. This delayed my flight two hours, and I missed my connection to Missoula. Because I had been so rerouted and thrown around, when I went to the airport the NEXT morning (day three), the ticket people had no idea what was going on with my ticket because it had so many scribbles on there. The woman looked at me sideways and asked, “So…um…why are you in Minneapolis and not in Denver?” She then proceeded to tell a newer worker that she would see perhaps one or two situations like mine in the space of twenty years.
That made me feel better.
I made it to Missoula eventually. I ended up pretty grateful for the delays in the long run. I was an emotional wreck leaving Poland, which was somewhere I had a warm circle of friends, my first love, and a million things I loved — and the two solitary nights in hotel rooms helped me cope. So in spite of being a one in several million sort of mess up, travel mojo had my back. 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
I know what you mean about baggage services people. I do try to be as kind as I possibly can to them because I know they’ve dealt with some intolerable idiots throughout their day. That said, I do wish I didn’t get lumped in with that crowd because all I’m trying to do is get my freakin’ bag. 🙂
Your trip back from Poland sounds nightmarish, though it does, indeed, sound like Travel Mojo had your back. I kinda picture everyone’s Travel Mojo (or Blogger Mojo or whatever) hangin’ out with each other, swapping stories like, “So the other day, my human did this really silly thing.” and “Oh, I know. Humans can be so weird sometimes, right?” and “Yes, but they are endearing which is why we keep looking out for them.” and so forth. 🙂
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Carrie Daws (@CarrieDaws) said:
Wow! What a trip!! I do practice hard to remind myself on trips that it’s not important when I arrive — the trip is part of the journey and all of it is all time off and away from routine. Usually works. Sometimes takes a little longer… My husband, on the other hand, prefers to eat customer service reps not interested in doing a good job. So, if the trip gets too frustrating, I just let him have a snack… 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
Your husband sounds like a good person to have around when dealing with incompetent customer service people! 🙂
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Julie Farrar said:
Favorite line: “wasn’t that enough.” That’s a good philosophy to carry when traveling. I try very hard not to get bent out of shape when things start to go wrong. And I try to channel my husband, who is unfailingly polite 95% of the time. I will never forget standing in a herd at GDG Airport in Paris. We had not yet received our boarding pass, it was past the official check-in time, and we were not in the terminal we were supposed to be in. With sincere smiles and politeness my husband got the ticket agent to call over and tell them we were coming and to hold the plane, then waived us on to a shuttle that sped us to the terminal. When we rushed through the crowd to our gate they were still boarding. We were last but we made it.
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Tami Clayton said:
Your husband sounds like a good person to travel with! I, too, try to not get too worked up about all of the little things, but by the time I arrived in SF on this particular trip and the little things started piling up, I really needed the calming nature of my Travel Mojo. 🙂
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Traci Douglass said:
I think your travel mojo and mine are related. LOL! Loved the Rick Steve’s reference too. Great post! 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
Thanks, Traci!
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Patricia Caviglia said:
I have a Traffic Mojo. It came into my life while I was living in Montreal. Due to the temperature and snow, road work in Quebec only takes place from late spring to early fall. So when the season’s right, there’s plenty of it.
Add to that, the fact that it appears to be uncoordinated. Example: “I have a brilliant idea! Let’s do major construction work on two major highways that travel in the same direction leaving only one lane accessible on each.” How long does it take to grow old while sitting in traffic? If you wanted to study this question, now you know where to go.
But that’s not all! The last two weeks of July, every road crew abandons its machinery, leaves its construction signs up and its traffic cones out to go on (tah-dah) vacation. Picture yourself driving by the empty site that has caused you to add an hour to your daily commute because…hmmm. Because the road crews wanted a good laugh!
My blessed Traffic Mojo keeps me calm and tells me how to get around a traffic jam while singing with the radio. 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
Oy, traffic in Montreal sounds brutal. So glad you have some Traffic Mojo to keep you calm and sane! 😉
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corajramos said:
Wonderfully funny story. I bet you could get this published somewhere.
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Tami Clayton said:
Thanks, Cora! That’s so nice of you to say. I hadn’t thought of it as anything more than a blog post, but I’ll give that some thought. 🙂
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Lee I said:
I love this. I just came upon it by a link from Julie at Traveling Through. It’s kinda the theme of my blog. I have a :50 minute layover booked in Amsterdam in June on a flight from Geneva to SFO, a disaster waiting to happen that I can see from the outset. But what the heck, it’s on the way home and nothing urgent to get back to except for my cats. I always thought I had a Driving Guardian (whom I secretly think is my Grandma looking over me except for the fact that I had it before she died) but I see no reason why Driving Guardian isn’t looking over me as Travel Guardian.