Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sleeping in your tennis shoes

It's a beautiful day in New York City according to the Weather Channel.  I cannot confirm that information personally since I am still in Arkansas.  I missed my flight yesterday morning, and despite many attempts to get on another one, including talking to at least 5 different Delta agents, I was not able to make it happen.  If I had an extra grand to spend on the fair difference, I could have done it.  Pretty much I am completely bummed out about not making the trip, and in truth, I'm a bit heart-sick.  I was looking very forward to spending time with some of my dearest friends.  I have the feeling that I let my friends down, and I really hate that. 

After the Art Walk on Friday, which was a great success by my measure, I went to see some folks here in town.  I got home later than I had intended, but I truly thought I would be able to rally and get myself together.  I woke up at 3:00 AM, as planned, did a couple of things to get ready; sat down on the bed, and next thing I know it was 2 hours later!  Even in what is presumably non-existent predawn traffic, I could not have made the hour plus trip to the airport in time for my 6:00 AM flight.      

When I was in college, working 40 hours a week and taking a full course load, I would often stay up most Thursday nights studying.  Typically, I would go to bed around 4 in the morning or so.  In an effort to make sure I would get up at 8 to make it to class, I would sleep in my tennis shoes.  I have no idea how I stumbled upon that trick or why that seemed to work, but it did.  (I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it probably helped that I was considerably younger then).  Who knows?  At any rate, I tried the same trick Friday night, and it worked.  At least I got up;  I just didn't stay up.  All that to say, I am still in Arkansas having not-so-great feelings about it presently.  Naturally, I want to blame Delta since had I not been bumped from the 10:30 flight, I would have been golden, but Delta didn't stay out too late, and Delta didn't not get up in time to get to the airport.

Lessons learned: BriGuy needs to make reasonable plans and sleeping in tennis shoes isn't a sure thing.  As Daddy always said, "Each day is a do-over" - another chance to get it right.  Onward and upward. 

Art Walk was a blast.  I saw what seemed like scores of people I hadn't seen in years.  I hugged more necks than I have in the previous 5 years combined.  I met and had the chance to visit with a couple of the artists we represent in the gallery.  A hightlight of the night for me:  A woman, whom I know I am supposed to know, who knew me, and so I couldn't ask her name (bad, I know), walked around the gallery showing me some of her favorite works.  Here is what I loved most:  She was admiring what she thought were six or seven new pieces.  I did not tell her that, in fact, those were NOT new pieces; they had just been rehung.  It felt good that all my staring, contemplation and wall vacuuming seemed to have paid off.  Mission accomplished:  people were seeing the art anew.

It was definitely a lot of work to get ready for Art Walk, but it was completely worth it.  It was a great night and fun for all I think.  After it was all said and done, Owner told me this was probably the hardest part of the job.  I smiled inside.  That was further confirmation for me that this just might be the right-est move I have ever made.

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