Rhinebeck’s Women’s Circle: Journey to Trust in the Universe

I like to call the following my lesson in trusting the universe.  While it was a lesson I would have preferred not to learn, it has helped me in so many ways.  In the end I’m happy about it.  I suppose “No pain no gain” applies here.

It all happened when I was taking my daughter on vacation for a week in Costa del Sol, Spain.  We were going with her best friend and her mom, and one of her sisters.

We had been planning this trip for the six months prior. The day we were scheduled to fly was the day the bombs went off in Madrid.  Needless to say, we had a few moments of panic and debated going.  I felt it was probably the safest time to travel because security would be tight and nothing would happen.  On the way to the airport, we sang and laughed and told stories about about other trips gone badly, etc.  Our driver told us a story about taking another family to the airport earlier, also on their way to Spain, when they ended up on a flooded road and the car died.  Their luggage got so soaked they had to go back home and catch a flight another day. The water was so high they were sitting on the roof of the car waiting for a tow.  We were all in amazement and kept saying if something like that ever happened to us, we didn’t know what we’d do.

We got to the airport, waved good-bye to the driver, and entered with very high spirits and excitement about going on vacation.  We walked up to the ticket counter and hand the ticket agent our passports.  She starts looking at them and asks me where this one passport was renewed.  It had expired in December 2003.  I was hardly paying attention – and didn’t realize she was talking about me or my daughter.  I just assumed it was one of the other’s passports. “Which passport?” I said, “ I don’t understand.”

“Your daughter’s passport is expired.  If you don’t have a new one for her, you’re not getting on this flight.” Instantly, I am beginning to feel queasy while trying to stay calm and nice, “Well, I didn’t realize her passport was expired, so what do I need to do to get on this plane?”

“You’re not hearing me. Your daughter is not getting on this plane without a valid passport.  Now, is anyone from your party traveling on this plane?”  Man was she cold.

With that a bomb went off in my body.  I could feel my energy explode.  I got dizzy and so weak I had to sit down.  I could feel my body beginning to shake inside.  I didn’t know what to do.  I was having an out of body experience.

We’re all in shock. The other Mom, Gail, has gone white. She’s in shock.  We have no idea what to do.  Gail and I just stare at each other unable to speak.

We step aside to compose ourselves and then go to another counter where someone will give me the information I need to get the passport renewed.  I’m not sure how I was able to stand or walk;  I felt so weak.  But somehow I made it to the right counter and encountered a woman who was incredibly helpful.  My daughter listened too and really stayed focus.  Looking back, that was the first step in trusting the Universe to provide us the guidance we’d need.

We tried to book a flight for the next day, but were told all planes were oversold, due to the bombing. Then I realized I didn’t even have a cell phone.  Luckily, my daughter did and the Journey to Trust in the Universe began.

I didn’t have my cell phone because we were leaving the country and it wouldn’t work.  Luckily my daughter brought hers, so we called her dad to let him know.  I began walking in a daze to the door to leave the airport, when Gail grabs me so we can make contingency plans!

Never have I felt so alone, so unsure, so unclear about what to do to resurrect my plans and my daughter’s dreams.

 Driving back to NYC the Journey to Trust in the Universe continued.  I realized we had no where to stay in the city, and would need a place to stay.  I called the first person who came to mind – a man I’d only recently started seeing. I left a barely intelligible message on his answering machine.  My next call was to the passport office to get an appointment; where I learned that the next available appointment was 5 days from now and half way through our week’s vacation.   I said to my daughter: “We’re just going to show up in the morning and beg.” To myself I said, I just have to trust in the Universe.

My daughter said: “My best friend is taking my vacation.  I hope I get to go on it also.”  My heart was breaking.  I felt so awful, but I didn’t want to show her and upset her even more.

My “new guy” called back then and had gotten the idea I needed help.  He had made a hotel reservation in my name and was treating us to the room and to dinner.  It was then that I took my first breath since this all started.

It wasn’t an easy or fun dinner – we were so panicked. The reality of my situation had started to sink in. I can’t remember what we ate, or how many times I went to the bathroom.  I just couldn’t pull myself back together.  My energy had been blown apart and I didn’t have the strength to collect it.

Dinner finally ends and back to the hotel we go.  I know I couldn’t properly express my gratitude for all he was doing for us, but I did try.  We said goodnight and hopefully good-bye and to our room we went.  We got into bed and then it really hit me.  All I could think of was this child next to me, for whom I had to be brave and stay calm.

My daughter was so great. She was a nervous wreck but was trying to stay calm as well.  She was confident we would get her passport.  I, on the other hand, was not.  I was confident we’d get on the fight the next night; she was not.  We were a great team supporting each other.

Needless to say I couldn’t sleep.  I lay in bed praying.  I prayed the entire night.  I prayed the Universe would provide us with people who wanted to help us.  I surrounded us with white light to protect us. I prayed and prayed and prayed.  A few times I switched my mantra to “Trust in the Universe”.  I really didn’t think I had any option but to trust.

As it turned out, we were able to wend our way through the bureaucracy, lines, challenges and all. By trusting in the Universe, smiling and sharing our story with people who genuinely wanted to and were able to help, we got a new passport, reinforced our faith in humanity and the Universe, and made it to the top of the stand-by list – all in 24 hours.  Finally able to breathe, and relax, I fell asleep, to wake up in Madrid. We floated off the plane got through customs and into a cab to the hotel. Were our friends ever glad to see us turning the corner in Madrid the next day! The vacation had started!

And, all I could do was thank the Universe for helping us, giving me strength, and sending us people who wanted to help.  I trusted the Universe big time, and it came through.  Remember my Journey the next time you start yours!