On the way….
February 13, 2009
Some time after booking my flight to India, I thought to check to see what kind of day it might be from the perspective of Jyotish. Just something simple like looking at the nakshatra; the vedic constellation the Moon would be in on that day. It was horrible. The text said very simply “avoid travel at all costs”. Since I couldn’t change the reservation, I decided to try a trick that the priests use. I decided to leave the night before and sleep in a hotel at the airport. It made sense anyway since the flight was at 7:40 AM.
I have always believed that Mother Nature has a slightly wicked sense of humor. I arrive at the airport and my flight which goes through Washington DC is delayed so much that I miss my connection to Frankfort. But, no problem says the ticket agent, we’ll just route you through Chicago, provided you can run to the gate. Run? You bet! Off I go and make it to the gate, grab a seat, and within 60 seconds, the door closes and we’re off! If I hadn’t been at the airport so early, I never would have made it. One point for the strategy.
Four hours to Chicago…that’t hardly even a warm up flight. The United terminal in Chicago (above) is really a nice place for a two hour layover. I decide to go to the counter to check to see if I have an aisle seat. I do a few Ganesha mantras first and ask, “Is this an aisle seat?”. The nice lady replies, “No, but I think I can give you one.” Bingo…aisle seat in an exit row. Infinite legroom! Another point for the strategy. Eight hours to Frankfort…piece of cake.
The only problem is that we arrive in Frankfort at 5:30 AM and everything is closed. So I wander endlessly until 8 AM when the check in place opens and they check me in but mysteriously say that I can only get my seat assignment at the gate, 1 hour before the flight. That sounds ominous. “Oh, don’t worry” the gate agent says cheerily, “You’re not on standby. You’ll get a seat.” Yeah, but…..
So I have another hour and a half to expect disaster…the worst imaginable fate. Stuck in a middle seat with a screaming baby on one side and someone unpleasant on the other. The plan is looking like it is headed for disaster. In the mean time I read all the english language newspapers. It is surprising and nice to see that the rest of the world is as hopeful about President Obama as we are.
I am second in line when the checkin counter opens. Once again, a nice agent makes sure I have an aisle and I am greatly relieved. It took her a long time of typing on her monitor so I wonder if some poor soul has just been reassigned someplace dire. But now I am so tied that I really don’t care as long as it isn’t me.
On the flight I am 1 seat away from a baby who must be only a month or two old. Thankfully the little one sleeps and eats and sleeps the whole way until we start our descent at which time she screams continuously for 45 minutes. Oh, and see that place above? Looks big doesn’t it? It is, but they cram so many people into that plane! I could sit comfortably if someone were to amputate my arms.
Usually in my life, Mr. Murphy is a constant companion. If something can go wrong it usually does. Given the possibility of dropped toast landing butter side up…for me, it always ends up butter side down. So on this trip it is notable that when disaster was an easy possibility, the fact that it turned out great is testament to the success of the plan. Just leave on a good nakshatra and Mother Nature will humor you.
And this is how you arrive in India. Just a short walk off the plane. Just when your legs are starting to work again, you turn a corner and there she is; a full sized Lakshmi, welcoming you to India. It is a great moment because no matter how difficult the journey, you’ve made it and immediately it is as if she reminds you why you have come all this way. Then it is down the stairs and out the door.
