Why Did You Bring Michigan Weather to Tennessee?

No matter where I travel, the same stages apply.  The preparation, the anticipation, the timing.  Then... bang, everything stops and I wait.  Waiting is hard after all the anticipation.  I’ve tried to skip the anticipation stage. When it comes to seeing my sweet sister, in Tennessee, it’s impossible.

I only have to go from Detroit to Nashville, but it seems like an endless production. 

Early check-in on the computer.  Checking on reservation for shuttle to the airport.  Taking things out of luggage, I don’t have to have, after I realize it’s MUCH too heavy. Last minute check on the weather.  Putting plants out, for neighbor to water.  Hauling my guitar, one large luggage and a heavy backpack to sidewalk to wait for the shuttle.

Kiosk Ready for Printing Tickets

Shuttling to the airport. Printing my ticket at the kiosk. Paying for checked bag. Tagging guitar and luggage.  Holding on my sanity through security checks. 

Boarding, squeezing into seat between two passengers. Turning off cell-phone.  Then wait for the surge of the take-off.

I brought my guitar, on this trip.  Derek Wolfe, my niece Jacqueline’s husband, graciously lent me one of his, in past trips.  I just felt I needed my “Baby” with me, this time.  I was ready to shed tears if they said there wasn’t room in storage.  Or, if they insisted I check it in with the baggage.  Traveling alone, there was no one to leave it with, I had to be poised for drama.

I was amazed when a Delta stewardess, at the door to boarding, asked, “Are you any good?” 

I said emphatically, “Yah! I’ve been playing since I was thirteen!” 

“So, that’s your “Baby”, then, she said, as she smiled.  “We’ll give a it a ticket for special handling.” (How did she know?)

“Thank you, so much, I don’t want anything to happen to it, “ I said, as I sighed with relief and boarded with my guitar in hand.

She was as sweet as the woman at the “Check-In” at Delta.  My bag was overweight by seven pounds.  She said, “That will cost $100 to cover the extra weight.  You sure you can’t rearrange something so it will be lighter?”

I said, “No, I don’t have anyone here to take anything back for me, I’ll have to pay it.”

“If I was you, I’d rearrange things. I’m just saying, “ she emphasized, “You have plenty of time.”

I looked at my backpack and thought, “A hundred dollars?  I should be able to figure something out.”  She was pleased when I came back to her counter later and the bag was under fifty pounds.  Not as pleased as I was.  I appreciated her urging me to try.  It was incredible she went out of her way to help me.  

For a week before I left for my trip, people were saying, “Nashville?  It was be sooooo nice, it will be spring there.”  Leaving from Michigan, after this continuous winter, felt liberating.  No boots.

I can’t say it’s spring, here in Nashville, yet.  Yesterday there was a blizzard.  I made sure my sister, Jeannie, took a picture of me in it.  

Blizzard in Nashville???

Not only was white, wintery stuff coming down, everyone, who found out I was from Michigan, were asking me, “Why did you bring the the snow with you?"

         Man! 

I'm Innocent!!

I would wager no one is going to praise me for bringing them spring when I return to Michigan.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA