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