I thought it couldn’t get easier than flying out of PDX airport, but I was wrong. Long Beach airport (LGB) is even easier! I got my ticket and passed security within 5 minutes. WHAT? (I also never check bags).
I am sitting in the airport, drinking a cocktail before my departure home. I am a big fan of the airport cocktail. Something about airports keeps me nostalgic and dreaming. It’s a place of betweeness, not here or there. It’s always nice to sip a drink and reflect on your trip, and think about what you want to accomplish when you get “home”. I am leaving my home for my new “home”. Home feels like such a transitory place for me.
I love airports because it’s a great place to people watch. I always surmise about where people are going, and what for. Is it for a relationship? Work? Family? Vacation? I love relationships and I love stories, so airports make my imagination go wild.
It’s been a truly wonderful, rejuvenating trip. It was a quick 60-hour whirlwind, but I saw my family and friends and got to reconnect on so many levels. It’s been one year since I’ve been home and even though it’s been a while since I’ve seen my friends face-to-face, I’m so happy that with good friends you just pick up where you left off. It’s like there was no time between us at all, no awkwardness, no apologies.
This trip has also been an exercise in gratitude. I’ve been holding my breath, because I didn’t want to jinx it, but after two years, I FINALLY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE! AND SO DOES MY PARTNER. After going to the ER last year while being uninsured, I am so grateful to be covered 100% by my job. It even includes massage, chiropractic work, and acupuncture! After going through hard times being unemployed, uninsured and on food stamps, I am so grateful that things have changed.
Meeting with my friends was awesome, but also gave me a lot of perspective about how lucky I am right now. Many of my friends are dealing with divorce, death and life-altering accidents. One of my friends almost died in a car accident six months ago. His feet were broken, ribs were fractured, and had to have surgery. He’s been out of work ever since, just started to walk again and may walk with a cane the rest of his life. We went out to dinner and he was telling me everything he’s gone through the last six months. I started to cry and couldn’t even imagine his pain. Yet through this all, he is still so positive and jovial. I knew half way through the dinner I was going to pay for his dinner and drinks. It wasn’t even a question. I honestly believe that we help people in the ways we can, and spending $50 on our good time was absolutely worth it. It was a great feeling. Usually it’s pretty 50/50 with my friends, but there are times when it’s clear that it shouldn’t be that way. There have been times when he was in a way better financial situation than me and he’s treated me, and now the tables have turned.
I have another friend who is selling her house, after living there 32 years because of family and neighbor drama. I felt so lucky and privileged to connect to friends and hear these stories. I feel so grateful for everything that I have.
I broke out into tears today, truly feeling the pain of divorce, death, sickness, and bad luck. It reminded me that we all have our own pile of $hit to deal with. Mine may be student loans, but for others it’s love, or family, or health, or a multitude of those things. At different times, we are the privileged, or we are the unlucky. It’s a revolving cycle that makes it clear to me the importance of friendship and gratitude.
I have so many thoughts swimming in my head right now. They bounce around carelessly, but I can’t contain them on paper. I have absolutely nothing to say about money right now, because sometimes it seems so trivial.
If you can walk, talk, breathe, eat and have shelter, YOU ARE SO LUCKY!
Sometimes we need a perspective shift, something to maintain that attitude of gratitude. This trip has realigned my thinking and for that it’s priceless.
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14 comments
Very nice post 🙂
I work with many Americans and from their stories, I often think of how lucky I am in Canada to have free healthcare and generous vacation and leave policies. I’ve had many little accidents over the years and it is easy to pop in and out of the hospital and not have to think about the costs involved. It is good to be reminded once in a while.
It’s amazing how different things are between Canada and the U.S. AND WE ARE SO CLOSE! Health insurance is a complicated issue in this country, but I am so glad I have it! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Awww, YAY! I love you, girl, and I’m so glad we’re friends! Glad you had such a good trip home!
Yay love you too sweetie! Glad you are my girl! 🙂 So happy you are enjoying your trip home and you will be welcomed back to PDX soon!
I am so glad that you had the opportunity and the time to reconnect with your peeps. I am also glad that your friend survived that wreck and is on the mend. That part of your post made me a little teary. Life is so precious and actively being connected to the people we love is huge! We cannot exist alone, it’s not healthy and it’s a lonely way to live. It’s also awesome that you’re taking time out for you! I think as Americans (was looking at the comments above) we sometimes forget the value of time off/time away/time to reconnect with ourselves. You sound refreshed. How awesome is that!
I am refreshed and very thankful. Life is very precious and short– I agree we forget easily to reconnect to ourselves and appreciate the little things. But it’s so important!
Wow, that really does make me feel so lucky! I hope peace comes to all of your friends after all of these hard times.
(Also, yay for the health insurance!)
I hope they get peace and things get better too. I am confident it will. These things take time. We should all feel lucky for the simple things– and I am feeling lucky for health insurance!
I loved this post and couldn’t agree more – sometimes you just need to take a step back and see the big picture to see all the good things that are going your way, rather than focus on only a part that’s “under construction.” I’m so glad to hear that you had quality time with loved ones, though sorry to hear that some are going through some tough challenges. That was so thoughtful of you to pay for your friend’s drinks, I’m sure he appreciated it and lifted his spirits. And YAY for health insurance! 🙂
Yay for health insurance and family time! It’s so important. Remembering the big picture always helps keep the perspective in focus!
That’s great news about health insurance. i can’t imagine how much that ER visit cost. 🙁
I like LBG too. It’s so open and comfortable.
Yes, it is! Also, the ER story has a happy ending. But yay for being covered!
Great post! It’s easy to get caught up in our own “stuff,” and not realize that in some way we’re all dealing with some kind of battle. I do the same thing at airports too! I love to people watch and wonder where everyone is coming from or where they are going.
Having a health insurance is very important nowadays! I already learned my lesson from not getting insured. By the way I’m from the Philippines and some of the indigent people here have free health insurance and they can use that thrice a year.