hubris hurts
This is a story of pushing the envelope way to far, not listening to advice you don’t want to hear.
We’ve been to a lot of airports, I noticed something. Dad, is there place for humans to sleep in airport, for me got my carrier. I’m snug as a bug in a rug there. “Well the answer is no.” Has is ever happened to you? “Twice. One was snow storm of the century, the other was an overly ambitious act on my part.”
Briefly lived in Panama and we’re connecting from Peru to Bogota then onto PTY. As we checked in at Cusco, gate agent says “You should stay here. There’s a good chance your connection will be canceled. Do you have Colombia entry papers for the dog?”
“Panama yes, Colombia, no.”
“Well get on that plane, you’ll likely spend night on Bogota El Dorado floor.”
“Put us on plane to BOG. Twink we’ve always figured it out, we’re going to figure it out tonight.”
Well just look at the picture to figure out what happened. I think he packed the blindfold.
It was six hours of pure hell. This is a top three dangerous places in THE WORLD. Dad had one hand on me, one hand on computer bag. I slept great. Believe it or not, this would be the least of our torture on that trip. See ‘Bureau-crazy.’
the glare of disdain
Here’s a story of subtly imposing a moral compass
Not happy disapprove of the proceedings. Can’t talk, so what do I do? Already got the ‘don’t pee on the rug’ lecture so we not go there.
Gotta do something to tip the mental scales. So Hermana taught me this mind-trick, told me it works every time with Dad. Ya know I tought Hermana the look of disdain. Silent subtle look away chin up give the vibe of I’m mad.
In this case it was ‘what do you mean we’re flying coach?’
in a lunatic we trust
This story is about when confidence devolves to over-confidence,
Dad is working on the computer this time I sense something different. Ok, what hare-brain idea now?
“Working on my resume, it’s part what you’ve done, part showing you how qualified you are. ‘Proven track record of success….’” STOP, WHAT, YOU? Yeah, we’ve been down here for three years and we’re still alive. That good enough for you boss?”
That’s Dad’s hija my Hermana Americana and her boyfriend. “Ya Camille, come on down for Navidad. I’ll give you the inside scoop on this fantastic city.” That’s Medellin’s Autopista, the main expressway. Ever try to cross a 4-lane highway each way cars going 60-mph? Good if you survive the southbound lane, you can regain your wits at median then tackle the northbound.
Camille said, “Remind me how did you get us into the mess?” Well the The Local (Dad) took wrong exit outta the subway now we’re in a pickle. “Kids, 30-minutes to retrace our steps. Too exhausting, let’s just cross the Autopista right here. Traffic’s not that bad. Consider this a challenge, I’ve done this before.”
STOP DAD! No you haven’t.
You used to be smart, clever but lately you’ve devolved into a bombastic idiot. Camille here comes another white lie meant to engender trust. “If the cars get near ya just hold your hand out, look them in eye, they’ll slow down trust me.”
Sorry, you just lost our trust.
Dad’s strategy, execution wasn’t received well. But we really didn’t have a choice, didn’t know the landscape. Nervy, but the artful dodgers made it.
victim of a fool’s errand
This is is a story of the intelligent subordinate seeing through empassioned BS, nervous exhileration of ‘flying without instruments, let the Zen take over
Twinkle, you ever work for somebody who’s stupid, crazy of a combo of two?”
Yes, you.
Dad, I told you this is RIDICULUOUS-DANGEROUS. Didn’t listen. You go down with ship, taking me with you. We’re climbing the foothills of the Andes. Not sure if I’m gonna die by mule kick, collapsed bridge, head on with bus, mudslide or falling off a cliff.
“Ya but puppy where we’re going is LENGENDARY, the top tip of the ‘Coffee Triangle. Majestic views, los termales, the thermal spas.”
So that’s code-speak for a woman involved and I have no interest getting dumped into a hot pool of pond water. It’s not great to be dead and you’ve pushed this too far.
“Did you pack the rosary? You got blessed on pet day, St. Francis of Assisi your patron saint. Start saying some Catholic prayers. Hey, I got two hands on the wheel here. Can you check where we are? Oh I forgot abut the no opposible thumbs, reading thing. Twink we’re in trouble here we have no GPS signal.”
What does that mean? “Flying without instruments, we’re gonna have to navigate the old fashioned way. When I was a kid we were lost my Dad thumbled himself (sic) to stop at the gas station ask for directions.
As we approach outskirts of our destination, the majestic Manizales, Colombia we stop at the gas station, policia on motorbike he get’s us close. What’s the plan from here?
“No plan dog, just fall back on Zen, relaxing, let your senses be your GPS.’”
I smell a pizza place over there, they must know the area, go in there and ask for directions. Five minutes and a few curbs later we followed the delivery driver a motorcicleta …ESTAMOS AQUI! Dad what are you doing?
“Kissing the ground.”
After all that you should French Kiss it.
Unleashed, yet feeling caged
Here’s a story of celebrating accomplishents, but knowing when it’s time to make a change.
“Twinkle, when do you know when things need to come to an end?” When what you’re doing becomes progressively less satisfying. The shine starts to wear off, time to move onto the next. Does that mean it’s time to make a change?
So then Dad tries to sell me, justify this misadventure. “Twinkle, this is the ONLY Gothic church in all of South America. Wow, look, over the mountains that’s coffee country, the farms start. Did you know that practically all materials used to build this church was imported from Europe. Built in early 1900’s it only took ten years to build. I could make some comment about what happens when the Europeans in charge.”
STOP, you fell back to the stereotyping.
Dad we got UNLEASHED, But, can I be honest, it feels like our future growth is being a bit … caged, limited. The trip back home tomorrow, we need to have a talk.
Dad begins to accept reality, “You’re a girl. Every time a girl has said that to me, well the talk was uh, uncomfortable. But I deserved those scolding and dios knows I don’t deserve you.”
Damn straight on both counts. I like to chew on bones, you’re chewing is gonna last for a long time tomorrow. And remember the no sense of inumerical ‘time.’
“Eight hours to be exact dog.”