Later today we will be on our
way to Texas, via Buffalo.
Just about everyone we know who
flies to the United States, flies from either Buffalo or Detroit, as opposed to
flying out from Canada. We’ve always boarded our flights in Toronto in the past.
Up until a few years ago, that pretty much guaranteed you’d be on a non-stop
flight to wherever you were going.
But then, Canadian airlines
began “partnering” with U. S. airlines, and so now for the most part Canadian
flights into the States are tied into the hub system. There are still a few
non-stop flights you can book out of Toronto, but not that many. But that’s not
the reason we’re flying out of Buffalo.
It’s the $1,000 difference in
the cost of air fare for this trip that decided us. I honestly couldn’t justify
paying that much extra.
First, driving to Buffalo is
only about a twenty minute travel difference, not counting the time at the
border. Once in the Queen City, if we stay a night before our flight, and the
night after our return flight at the same hotel, our car gets to be parked the
entire time we’re gone, for free. Well, all right, not free, but the cost of the
room includes the car parking, which for the same period in Toronto near to the
airport would be 200 dollars all on its own (one of the reasons our daughter
usually drives us to the airport and picks us up again).
The added bonus is that this
plan reduces the stress of traveling, at least for me.
I am humbled that the reason
we’re heading to Texas is for a joint gathering of mine, and Heather Rainier’s,
Street Teams [the e-book equivalent of a fan club]. I’m so excited to get to
meet these wonderful women. How cool is it that people will actually come
together to meet me? The great fringe benefit, of course, is that I get to spend
time with my good friend and fellow author, Heather Rainier and her family. I’m
also going to get to see my publisher while I’m there as she is based in
Texas!
Mr. Ashbury is coming with me,
of course—though on my last visit to Texas he didn’t. That year—the year before
last—he decided to take the girls on a trip instead. The main purpose of my
visit then was to collaborate with Heather, which resulted in a book from each
of us - another cross-over treat for our readers.
I’ve looked ahead to the
weather and it looks like we’re going to see a fair bit of rain and possibly
thunderstorms. I really don’t mind that so much, as there aren’t many places
we’re planning to “see”. We visited a few tourist spots on our first trip to
Dallas.
My beloved is hoping for good
weather the day before we fly home, as we’ll be spending that day in San
Antonio. He wants me to see the River Walk. The year I attended my first RT
Convention as a published author, it was held in Houston. Once I was settled in
at the hotel, he headed out to the airport—he was flying by himself to San
Antonio, to see the Alamo. History buff that he is, it was one of the places on
his “bucket list”. He came back excited about the city and wanted me to see
it.
I’m praying that this is a
really good trip for me. Issues that I’ve been dealing with, health-wise, over
the last couple of years, seem to have settled down some. I’m very grateful,
because nothing is worse than traveling when you’re not sure how you’re going to
be on any given day.
That said, as tough as that
was, I did the best I could, because really, everything is a decision. I believe
with all my heart that you can either live your life reacting to your
circumstances, or you can live your life on your own terms in spite of
them.
I have already decided that I
am going to have a wonderful time on this trip. I’ll be meeting face to face
some of my most dedicated readers, I’ll be visiting with a family I love dearly,
seeing my publisher again, and I’ll be spending time with my beloved.
Anything else—weather, or
health issues—are just circumstances.
Love,
Morgan
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