Aug3

the beginning and the end of my journey-a story of magnificence, as told in pictures..

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my morning view from my hotel in san jose, costa rica at the beginning

a magnificent welcome

my morning view from my hotel-ish in the jfk airport area, new york, usa, at the end

even the boy scouts need help finding their way from time to time at jfk airport

2.5 hours in tsa security

dogs alerted to hiking shoes worn in the rain forest

they took my shoes for a while

 later dropped them into a random plastic bin for me to retrieve with no explanation

planning in my head to work out an alternate flight

miracle flight delay at last minute

ran for ages and somehow made it on just in time

i’m not known for my running skills

but i was motivated

right on time

bus transfer to ann arbor

with the kindest, most positive, happiest driver i’ve ever encountered

helped an older blind woman board bus one step at a time

moved her personal things so that should could sit in a front seat

helped a very elderly man who did not speak english to secure a ticket and hook up to wi-fi

yelled out, “i’m not tryin’ to not listen to your conversation here,

but i’m overheatin’ and need to turn on the air so i may not hear you!”

apologized for now planning to be 5 minutes late to arrive in ann arbor

did not blame the delay on the people she stopped to help

got on her radio and gave us updates like an airline pilot

told us she was passing trucks, so she could go a couple of miles faster,

as per company policy, to make up the time

as we approached ann arbor

she shared that she makes it a point not to go over curbs

even with all of the city’s myriad construction detours

told us the she really is a hippie at heart and loves ann arbor

reminded me so much of the comedian, melissa mcarthy

a blond version

with her big hair clip, gloves, vest, reflector sunglasses

and best of all

an incredibly big heart and enthusiastic demeanor

born to do this job or any job with people

upon arrival in ann arbor

she told us not to worry

she would get all of our luggage our from the underbelly of the bus

did so with a smile, got right in there to grab our things, and wished us well before she headed off

a magnificent ending.

—

many thanks to all who followed me on this journey

—

“remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.”

roy m. goodman

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108 responses »

  7. I was just recently discussing customer service (or rather the lack thereof) and how when we are faced with someone good and caring we need to shout it out. As you just did. What a wonderful person she is! And what up with the shoes? That is so not cool to just take them and not return them to you once they were done. smh.

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  9. Airline security…I understand the need…but yeah. My carryon got flagged the other day and it only contained clothes and one pair of sandals. On the way back my tote got flagged (and id taken out my toiletries and electronics in separate bin) the agent said she couldn’t understand why it was flagged … It had a scarf blanket for flight, glasses, starburst, headphones and I think that was it.

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  11. Beth, this is beautiful. Your journey was magnificent. Such an amazing destination. What I admire about you is how you “see” others. I wish the driver, this blonde Melissa and amazing human, could read the words you wrote about her. I applaud you for recognizing all the good around you. By the way, I love your hiking shoes (says the girl who lives in them). And what a hold up on that—but you even put positive spins on pauses. Way to be, Beth.💛

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  17. Aww. If everyone was this nice: “the kindest, most positive, happiest driver” the world would be a more reverent place; a brotherhood that lasts.
    I’m so glad your return trip ended like this. Tremendously wonderful. Welcome back to your home. Xoxo

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  21. Like you, Beth, I let superiors know when I get outstanding service from one of their employees. These days great customer service is my #1 reason for choosing a company or product, and for recommending them to others. Welcome home!

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  25. I don’t know; this ending is just such a typical Beth ending…. And as little as I know any American actors, I DID think of Melissa Mcarthy when you described the cheerfulness of your bus driver! Isn’t that the perfect ending to a nearly perfect trip of a lifetime?
    And isn’t coming home – even after the most fab trip ever – just the greatest thing (for about a day or three)?! Tks so much for sharing your hols with us. I totally fell in love with Costa Rica through your tales and fab pics.

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  30. They took your shoes? No explanation when returned. Glad you caught a flight and sounds as if the bus driver was an angel without a disguise. So glad you had a wonderful time. Now sleep for a couple of days and try and get used to being home where there are no critters that can kill you. ❤️

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  34. A kind heart swooping in
    can re-weave the world,
    right where you stand.

    Looking for one even as I write this,
    like that one missing song
    which will add something beautifully unexpected to the album I’m playing
    and turn it into something transcendent.

    Haven’t even heard it yet,
    but I know it’s there,
    waiting to grab my soul
    so I play it to death,
    cutting the tracks so deep
    that the needle goes all the way down to the far side of the world.

    I found a similarly enchanting driver on a bus ride in the Scottish Highlands last year.

    Maybe she leaps from bus to bus,
    between adding standout tracks to old vinyl.

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  35. Your vaycay adventures are wonderful, Beth.
    I’d say you had your glasses on the entire time.

    The lady bus driver was a cool tale.
    All of our public transportation here has wheelchair access.
    This means all must (including cars behind the street car) wait while the ramp is deployed, the driver gets off and helps the person, gets back on the street car and retracts the ramp.
    I can feel the tension of all the people in a hurry, and hear the honking that begins several cars down. (They can’t see what’s happening)
    I’ve been a bit late sometimes, as more and more handicapped now use the TTC, and get to live a fuller life in the city.

    I love the humanity. Your bus driver took the time to be humane. It’s a beautiful thing.
    Yes, you had your glasses on.
    Welcome home!

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