Travel
Charlotte Rains Dixon  

To Nashville and Back

Estock_commonswiki_353383_hYou might have noticed my absence from this space over the last week.  That's because I went to Nashville on a teaching trip, which was wonderful as always and also turned out to be a bit more adventurous than usual.

To wit:

–My husband got so sick before I left I almost cancelled my trip.  I did try to delay it by one day, but the airlines charge a lot for that.  Like $1,000 a lot.  So off I went anyway, with promises by my daughter to look in on him.  Instead of him rising at the crack of dawn (4 AM) to drive me to the airport, I ordered a cab and had the dubious pleasure of riding with a taciturn Russian driver who did not say one word the entire trip.  My husband started antibiotics and soon felt much better. So did I.

–I stayed the first two days with a student I had worked with for three semesters but beyond that didn't know well.   I think we were both a little nervous about it.  I mean, what if I burped or farted in front of her and/or her husband and embarrassed all of us?  You'll be happy to know that didn't happen, and I had a great time, ending up the time feeling like I made a wonderful new, close friend. (Hi, Karen!)

–Got my debit card hacked.  Yes, really.  Somewhere in my travels across the country, the card got skimmed.  Was it the surly cab driver?  The sweet woman at the newsstand in Dallas?  Who knows?  I've got to hand it to Paypal, they took immediate action and dealt with the problem without a lot of fuss on my part.

–Almost missed my flight home to Portland from my connection in Denver.  Apparently, Frontier Airlines likes to cut things close with connecting flights.  I had 30 minutes in which to make it.  And, of course, the plane from Nashville to Denver was late.  Turned out there were 50 of us on the flight with the same insanely short connection time, so they held all the planes for us.  It still required a mad dash through the airport (wearing boots and an oversized purse, wheeling my computer bag behind me), because, wouldn't you know it, the arrival and departure gates were about as far apart as you could be and still be in the same concourse.

–Remembered about fear: that it's a sneaky beast that can masquerade as anxiety or a variety of other emotions.  And really, it all just goes back to fear.   I remind myself that the word that pressed itself upon me this year is fearless and it is that word that I have pledged to live by.  And so I shall.

So those were some of my adventures.  In my next post, I'll write about the actual writing part of the trip, including some of the highlights of the Loft orientation.

Have you had any adventures lately, in life or  your writing?  I'd love to hear about them.  Leave me a comment and share.

***By the way–you can get $50 off my next Get Your Novel Written Now class if you sign up by next Thursday, Jan. 31st.  It doesn't start until March but sign up now for early bird pricing!

0 thoughts on “To Nashville and Back

  1. Don

    Wow…. I’m exhausted just reading about your little adventure! You must really be pooped, and I can’t blame you. Having one’s debit card skimmed has got to be one hell of a bummer, and personally who ever did it should be skinned for doing so if caught, and I hope he, or she is. Hopefully, the rest of your adventure will be a lot more peaceful and profitable. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. Hope your hubby is well as well, take care Charlotte.

  2. Zan Marie

    Oh, wow! I hate late connections with a white hot passion. We were on our way to Europe with a group of students and our flight from Atlanta was late to Detroit. Wouldn’t you know it, the two gates were at the far ends of the airport from each other. Not the way to start a trans-Atlantic flight.

    Rest well. How’s your hubby?

  3. Charlotte Dixon

    Thanks, Don!  I do have to admit that I was a bit more tired than usual after I got home this time, and I'm sure all my little mishaps had a lot to do with it.  Good to be home!

  4. Charlotte Dixon

    Zan Marie, I get the shivers just thinking about your almost-missed flight!  It's one thing to have it happen domestically, but when flying internationally, everything is magnified.  My hub is much, much better–thanks for asking!

  5. Karen Phillips

    Hi Charlotte. 🙂 I’m so glad you accepted my invitation to come here before the Loft’s workshop, and so are the very lucky members of the LWC who heard your presentation when you came!
    Karen
    LOL, and by the way, I was nervous I would fart, Alan would burp and Zee would drag her little itchy black and white butt across the carpet right in front of you while you ate dinner! I didn’t know you were nervous at all.

  6. Charlotte Dixon

    Karen, I always get nervous before I travel and before I stay at a new place–it comes with the territory and I figure its better to admit it than pretend I'm all perfect and sophisticated.  But from the minute I stepped into your house and met Zee I felt at ease!  I had such a great time with you and Alan, thank you so much.

  7. Karen Phillips

    We all were glad to have you, Charlotte. Alan said he really enjoyed having you, Zee looked around for you when I got home from the Loft weekend, and I miss you!

  8. Charlotte Dixon

    Ahh, thank you Jaren. You're the best!

  9. Patty/Living Deep Studio

    Loved the ins and outs and twists and turns of this story, Charlotte. And I’m so glad you made it back and your husband is feeling better!

  10. Charlotte Dixon

    Thanks, Patty.  It's funny, despite–or maybe because of–all my adventures, this was one of my best trips to Nashville!

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