Monthly Archives: December 2009

Christmas Peace

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Christmas Peace

Dec09-5I arrived at the SDF airport bright and early on Christmas Eve.  My 9:10am Continental flight was right on time.  It was luckily a straight shot from Louisville to Houston!

Like usual, it was a small plane.  One seat on one side, two seats on the other.  My seat was 7A.  Right across from me were two cute little girls that giggled in their seat. They directed their attention up to their mother who was sitting at the very front in row 1A.  I thought for a second if I wanted to have the Christmas spirit and let the mother have my seat.  But, I hate the front row since I would have no access to my carryon. I thought about it as the plane finished loading.

One seat in front of me (6A) a woman talked to her husband in 5A.  He was rather tall and was hoping to possibly sit in the front seat for more room.  As I heard their conversation, I leaned forward and divulged my plan… “Excuse me, I overheard you all talking.  I was going to switch places with the lady upfront so that she could sit next to her kids.  However, I really don’t want that front seat.  How about if I take your seat (5A), you can take her seat (1A) and she can have my seat next to her kids?”  He thought this was a perfect idea – Merry Christmas – so I walked up to the front of the plane.

I approached the mother and said, “Excuse me Ms., I wanted to see if you wanted to switch me places.”  She said, “What’s wrong?  Are they misbehaving?”  I said, “No, I was sitting across from them and was offering to let you sit closer to them.”  This mother wasted no time with her response “OH NO! I’m perfectly fine up here!”  And that was the end of the conversation.

I walked back to 7A and the girls told me they were 8 year old twins.  They said they usually get along. I let them know that they better get along for our flight.  They giggled some more.  They then pointed to the back of the plane and said “and our dad is sitting back there!”

I guess we all need different types of Christmas peace.  It was probably a major blessing for both the mother and the father to have 2 1/2 hours of peace and quiet to themselves.  Not all gifts cost hundreds of dollars or even have to be wrapped.  Sometimes it’s just a simple gesture that makes the world of a difference!

M.Y.  December 2009

Just One

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Just one

Dec09-3Recently I had to take my car to the dealership for the 60k mile service.  In return I was given a loaner. Boy, this car was sharp – the new Lexus ES350.  It had the touch start, automatic windshield wipers and head lights and pretty much everything you could ask for.  I was driving in style.

Since I got the car Saturday, I was able to keep it through Monday morning.  It was luxury at best.  Nobody could tell me anything as I drove my new Lex down I-71 for a planned trip to Cincinnati.  I was sad to let her go, but glad to be reunited again with my SUV.

The day after returning the car, I flew to North Carolina to spend time with my aunts.  The first thing I did as I arrived was pick up my rental car. Since it was just me traveling and I wouldn’t be going far, I asked for the cheapest thing – an economy car.  They pulled up a cute blue Hyundai Accent Hatchback.

I turned the key in the ignition and was on my way.  After a short distance I noticed my mirrors weren’t adjusted.  I looked for the button to change them.  There wasn’t one.  There was a manual handle instead by each mirror.  I could reach the left one, but the right one was too far away.  I continued to look around and saw that everything was manuals.  The locks were manual.  The windows were manual.  Everything.

It was odd going from one extreme to the other in less than 24 hours.  But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this happens to people all the time.  Sometimes we feel like we are on the top of the world and all it takes is one incident, one misstep, one unfortunate event to take it all away.  The recession, for example, has caused many people to be laid off and rethinking their priorities.  One drink has caused some to lose their jobs.  Just one car crash can cause all of your hidden secrets to come out of the closet.  Just one.

But with that, you also need to appreciate what you still have.  I may not have driven in luxury for those two days in NC, but I had a reliable source of transportation.  It was a great size for me.  The mileage was amazing and it only cost $2.30 to fill her back up.  So, while it’s great to have luxuries in life (there is nothing wrong with being proud of them), also realize that when that one thing has happened to take you down a level, that there are still many blessings around you.

Merry Christmas!

M.Y.  December 2009

Watch the Signs

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Watch the signs

Dec09-2My aunt had a heart transplant while I was in college and since then she hasn’t traveled much.  I usually try to go visit her in Fayetteville, NC a couple times of year.  That heart is now 12 years old and declining rather quickly.   I planned a quick day trip to see her – out on Monday, back on Tuesday.

Monday morning I parked my car at work and my colleague dropped me off at SDF.  I had already printed out my boarding pass the day before and headed to the security line.  As I reached in my purse for the pass – it was not there.  Hmmmm.  No problem, I thought, I’ll just go to the ticket counter to print out another.

The US Airways lady at the desk asked where I was going.  Tap, tap, tap.  “Your Charlotte flight is cancelled.  And, so is your flight to Fayetteville.”  I ask why.  She says fog.   She puts me on a Delta flight two hours later. I call my colleague to turn back around and take me to the office for two hours to waste time.

Before leaving again I get the inclination to check the Delta flight online.  The 11:30am flight was now delayed until 12:05.  Not bad, EXCEPT that only gave me 12 minutes to make my connecting flight in ATL.  I called the Delta dude and told him what I discovered.  He said, we’ll you might make.  I kindly told him that I’m not about to fly to ATL for a flight that I might make, especially in the Atlanta airport!  He then graciously offered for me to wait in ATL for three hours for the next flight after that.  No gracias, senor.

I realized that it just wasn’t meant for me to fly on Monday.  I called US Airways and asked if I could just move my entire itinerary to Tuesday-Wednesday instead.  She said sure, made the changes and I felt much better.  I complimented her on her great customer service and asked to brag on her to her supervisor.

My trip was great.  My relatives were excited to see me. Sometimes we just need to follow our gut and go with our feelings.  Just because we want something, doesn’t mean that it’s good for us.  Following my feelings with flying was easy to do.  However, it’s much more difficult to do when it comes to matters of the heart.  We all say we want ‘signs’ to know what paths to follow in life – but when they are there, do we fully acknowledge them?

M.Y.  December 2009

An Amazing Feeling

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An Amazing Feeling

Nov09-4One of the most joyous things that I experience with OnyxLouisville is giving away free tickets to the readers.  At first I would just email the winners, but found that impersonal.  So now I always call.  The emotion in people’s voices is sometimes unforgettable and personally brings tears to my eyes.

There was one contest where I asked married men to email in to win tickets to a concert for him and his wife.  In order to test whether or not the man was married, when I called the winner, I simply asked “Are you married?”  To my amazement, the first three guys I called were not married.  They all had girlfriends – which in essence disqualified them from winning.

Then there are other people that I will call and the first thing I say is “Hello, is this ______?”  I guess some people think I am a bill collector because their voice gets a little more distant and defensive.  Then once I explain my fantabulous reason for calling their voice completely changes and they praise God for my call.

This week I made a call that has warmed my Christmas heart.  I asked people why they wanted two tickets to the KEM concert.  Gerri sent me an email about her cousin and her cousin’s fiancé.  They were both celebrating one year of being drug free.  I called Gerri and could tell how much this would mean to her and her family.   I asked for the phone number of her cousin because I personally wanted to congratulate her.

When I called, she had no idea who I was or even what OnyxLouisville was.  I explained that I was giving away a prize and someone thought she was deserving.  I let her know that when people do wonderful things and people believe in you, they want you to be rewarded.  Then, as I told her that she and her fiancé were going to the KEM concert she nearly jumped through the phone.  I could feel (although not see) the tears in her eyes.

That phone call was the chance for me to let her know that the changes that she is making in her life are meaningful and people around her are embracing her every step of the way.  When you make positive changes, positive things happen. I encouraged her to keep believing in herself and continue on the right path.  At the end of the conversation she said “I love you” and to have a happy holiday.  A complete stranger told me that she loved me.   Although I made her day, I pray that Angela also knows that she made mine!

M.Y. December 2009

Black Friday

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Black Friday
Dec09-1I hate to shop.  So when I need (well I guess want) to buy something, I do a lot of research before actually purchasing a product. Aside from the joy of eating and spending time with friends and family on Thanksgiving Day is the excitement of all the coupons in the newspaper.  It’s your first exposure to the once a year deals.

This year I was personally searching for two items.  One – a home theater system for my basement. Two- a vacuum.  I quickly found that no home theater system is reasonably priced.  However, there was a decent one listed at HHGregg.  When I went online to further research the product, I found that it was really only $30 off (definitely not worth an early morning fiasco).  I did, however, find another system that had a good discount.   I knew the product I wanted, now I just needed a plan!

HHGregg opened at 4:00am.   I knew I wasn’t about to stand out in the cold as frost gathered on my nose.  So I set my alarm for 3:30am.  Right on time, the alarm went off.  And right on time I hit the snooze button.  3:38 – snooze.  3:46 – snooze.  3:52 – snooze.  4:00am – I realized if I didn’t get out of bed now, I’d miss the possibility of getting a deal.

I threw on some sweats, brushed my teeth/hair and headed out the door.  When I pulled into the parking lot at 4:15, there were no lines outside, but the parking lot was full of cars.  As I went in, I saw why.  There were lines of people looped all throughout the store (each line was at least 40 people deep).  As I went to the electronics section, I saw my preferred item.  It wasn’t a Black Friday special, but was listed on sale on the website.   I asked the sales guy if he knew the price.  He said he ‘thought’ it was on sale.  I politely told him that I was NOT about to stand in line for two hours to buy the product to only be told that it was regular price.

My patience for lines is very short.  I looked at the expressions on the people already in line and could tell that the lines were moving at a snail’s pace.   So I left.  And, then the best thing happened!!!  I drove home and turned on the computer.  I saw the item on sale, selected the ‘pick up at store’ button and paid for it online….  In the heat………. With no line!  I looked at some of the Black Friday items that were in the paper and they too were available for purchase online.  Simply simple and simply amazing.  I then rolled over in my bed, turned off the light and was dreaming sweet nothings.

M.Y.  December 2009