Columnists
Penance For Missing Valentine's
INNI KAUR
This weekend, I felt my patience was tested and then some.
It all began on Friday the 13th. (No, I am not superstitious).
I was fortunate to get on an earlier flight to Toronto. Great!
Did I arrive early? No!
Sat on the runway at LaGuardia airport, eager to leave New York behind, for 45 minutes.
No complaints.
Somehow, made it on time for the radio interview and the Friday story-telling session scheduled in Toronto. On Saturday and, Sunday, the workshops and children’s story-telling sessions went brilliantly. Met wonderful people.
Loved it all.
Heading back, arrived at the Toronto airport at 12.30 pm on Sunday, hoping to catch the earlier flight.
No luck! Worse. My own flight had been cancelled. The first time this has happened to me.
To make a long story short: I stood in endless and multiple queues. Shrouded by dreadful weather conditions. Suffered numerous delays. Was abandoned to a standby status (a new experience). O, felt so out of my comfort zone.
Finally landed at the LaGuardia airport in New York at midnight.
Waited for 45 minutes for the luggage, only to be told that the baggage of the entire flight was still back in Toronto. Waited for another hour to fill in forms.
Arrived home at 3 am with swollen and blistered feet, bruised vocal cords, lungs that needed tender loving care, and a back begging to be horizontal.
Glanced at my coffee table. My favorite vase was filled with Asiatic lilies.
Husband is too good to me.
I realize … I am putting pressure on the relationship. Sunday would’ve been difficult for him. I understand …
Need to make amends!
My weekend reflection: As I stood in the long queues, my thoughts were of Baba Nanak and Bhai Mardana. They had walked everywhere, across the globe. How did they do it? Did their feet not hurt? How did they deal with the brutal vagaries of nature. What did they eat?
As I bought an over-priced sandwich in that overcrowded airport, and dug into it, somehow, I felt closer to my Guru than at any other time in my life.
Strange, isn’t it?
Monday morning reflection: I deeply, deeply regret all the anxiety that I caused my husband here in Connecticut and my sister back in Toronto. Yet … feel so blessed to be loved by them!
February 17, 2015
Conversation about this article
1: T. Sher Singh (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada), February 17, 2015, 6:34 AM.
Let me guess. Air Canada? It has my vote for The Worst Airline In The World! A few years ago, I decided that that they'd done this to me for the last time, never again! I've felt it my patriotic duty as a Canadian to warn the world to stay away from it as far as possible. It's the only way, I believe, one can get it to improve ... or go bust. Either option is fine with me, considering ... Pass on the word!