The Not So Friendly Skies!

Is it ever right to be too right? You know, is it ever politically, morally or spiritually correct to tell someone who is already frustrated and irritated that if they had only listen to you in the first place they would not be in their present circumstances?

Years ago I remember reading about a curse the Greek gods placed on a man that he would always know what was going to happen in the future. The curse.....No one would believe him!

Some times I think that my mister has been cursed with the same affliction. He invariably knows the right way, the right timing, the right road, the right answer, the right course, the right equipment, the right tools etc.

However, he fails to factor in the human element...... emotions, lack of motivation, unforeseen circumstances, mechanical failures, procrastination and airplanes being over booked.

This was the situation this afternoon when we drove two hours to Richmond to get my Canadians on a plane bound for the frozen north land. We left in plenty of time despite having to turn around once for a forgotten pillow and blanket. We had a lovely meal and even did the some shopping.......Thus the problem.

You can't always make the line at the check out counter go faster. By the time we got to the airport a wild dash ensued to the ticket counter to get bags aboard. That's when it turned ugly.

There was only one counter person with 6 disgruntled consumers with lost luggage from a previous flight, the current flight was over-booked and they were not letting any one else check their baggage.

It was a very intense scene with lots of emotions and no satisfaction to my travelers. Oldest daughter in tears, having to pay extra to ensure they have tickets for tomorrow's flight leaving at the same time, lost wages from not being able to go to work, his parents inconvenienced as they were to pick them up at the airport, another two hour trip back home and the road trip continues tomorrow to get them back to the airport.

The mister taking all this in......begins venting that he knew this was going to happen, that's why he didn't want to leave later than.....how he hates to be late......why he always allows extra time especially at the airport.....and especially during a holiday! (I'm sure there was more to follow, but no one heard , especially me, as Mount Saint Lazy Daisy erupted.)

I have always been told that everyone carries two buckets with them.....one filled with water, one filled with gasoline. Whenever a fire breaks out we have the choice of which bucket we will throw on the fire......water, or gasoline!

The fire is already blazing......My child already feels bad enough about the whole situation. Is telling her how she messed up really the right time for a teaching opportunity?

I have learned many things from doing things badly. Failure has taught me to change certain habits. I remember harsh words said to me in anger, and frustration.......words that still haunt me even as an adult......words that were never quite erased from the "tape that starts playing in my head whenever things go wrong."

To the Mister's credit......Kindness won out! My child knows that we love them enough to be inconvenienced. (That Family does come first.....that even though the skies may not be so friendly they will always have a soft landing place in us.)