tedwords | The Road to Paradise

"Create a paradise anywhere you go." Bjork

I don't think the trip to our lovely location in Barbados was an ordeal by any stretch of the imagination.

We did arrive here at three in the morning, even though the scheduled arrival had been seven at night. And the taxi drive to our resort felt more like a high speed chase than a relaxing end to a long day. I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie, as the driver traveled down the road at 80 and passed other vehicles on the opposite side of the road. At one point he was driving on the sidewalk.

I tried to look at it like a ride at an amusement park.

The reason for our delay was a gas line malfunction. The pilot was very forthcoming and announced the problem and what they were attempting to do, every step of the way. It ultimately involved having to get off the original plane and wait for a replacement.

"I'd rather know before we take off than mid flight," said Corb.

But to hear some of the people around us talk it was a terrible ordeal, happening only to them. The gentleman behind us, who was clearly some sort of financial planner or attorney, traveling with his daughter, started fussing and fuming the second they made the first announcement. "Dad, chill out," his daughter scolded him. "They are doing the best they can."

Dad could not chill out. He had to go all type A business exec, and spent the next forty minutes calling his rental company and the hotel he was at, and using his most senior executive voice to demand that he was a big deal, this was an ordeal, and actually said "What can you do for me?"

Meanwhile, Corb made one quick call to our hotel, which was probably entirely unnecessary, and we were all set. As I was booking the flight, I had noticed that arrivals at one or two in the morning where very common.

Perhaps it made the Boss Man feel good to make the calls, soothed his anxiety. It kind of triggered me, because I deal with people like that all the time. Corb was amused to watch me scowl and roll my eyes as I heard the man go through his motions. There was just need.

I want to get to the point where I just listen to someone like that and laugh.

Anywhere, here we are. In paradise. The journey is what it was, and boy, did we sleep well when we arrived. To the sound of peace doves cooing outside our balcony.

Today, I won't complain about the potholes in the road taken, but marvel at the scenery around me.