I’m slowly learning a few rules about living with stress, or more like how to reduce stress when traveling. The last few weeks have really hit me hard physically – something about lack of sleep, emotional breakdowns and pushing myself too hard are taking a toll. I look like crap with big bags and dark circles under my eyes. So I need to take it easy on this trip and maybe just relax, have some fun, and not worry about getting perfect pictures.
But last night was not a good start. I decided to stay overnight in Seattle, so I’d just have the flight to Sitka in the morning. I’m glad I did that. I had forgotten about Labor Day weekend – not a good time to be traveling. At any rate, I booked a night at the airport Hilton Hotel – a nice place. Unfortunately, they gave me the Arachnid Suite, which comes with one of those big beauties (Giant House Spider) free of charge. I did not realize that until I came back from a pleasant dinner, and found this waiting patiently for me on the bed. I chased it off, but it managed to hide somewhere else in the room. Rather than risk spending a night with at least one 2” spider (it might have had friends), I called the front desk and they quickly moved me into an enormous suite – which was thankfully free of spiders.
So along with a new rule of never booking the Arachnid Suite in a hotel again, my other new rule is to do anything you can to avoid stress at the airport. Joining Clear was number one – it really made a difference traveling on a major holiday, especially in Seattle. What a zoo. The second rule is to pay for the airline lounge if you don’t get a complimentary pass. I’m writting this, sitting in a wonderful, relaxing Alaska Airline lounge, with a nice latte and a blueberry scone, watching the planes take off. The gates are all packed, with people sitting on the floor. Been there done that in my consulting days. It’s all about me now.
Time for another latte, and then head to the gate.
The Traveling Widower 