Back In Time

Early morning SeaTac time

 

Day one of travel to my hometown is here! Well, actually, it’s come and gone. That’s right, I’ve done some major time traveling today! This morning at 3:30 am I got a phone call from my sweet friend (and co-worker), Glenda, telling me that she was outside ready to take me to the airport. I quickly jetted out of bed to put on clothes (though judging from the ATX temps, I probably  would have been fine wearing next to nothing), grab my last-minute snacks from the fridge and head out the door!

 

Travel snacks, knitting bag, & luggage in tow, ready to board the 1st flight on my way home! Major thanks to my G-Mama, Glenda Hamlin Wright, for the early-bird ride to the errrrport!

 

We had a great conversation on the way over to the airport, exchanged hugs, and I was off to brave the gigantor lines surrounding United Airlines. When I FINALLY made it to the check-in/bag-drop kiosk, the airline’s records showed a major problem with my itinerary. Though my e-ticket showed that I was flying SEA to IAH, then IAH to AUS, their computer system was showing that I was flying SEA to IAH, and that my connecting flight was YESTERDAY, with a final destination of San Antonio. Ummm no. WRONG-O! In the course of fixing my ticket, I missed the 45 minute cut-off and they were going to need to re-book me on a new flight, getting in to Austin at 10:30p instead of my scheduled 4p. Again, ummm no.

 

Frustrating moments lead to craving comfort foods . . . like drip coffee! I must say, their Kati Kati blend rules, yo!

 

I was super frustrated and near tears when I asked to speak with the manager. After getting everything sorted out, my wonderful, gracious, patient agent, Dean Edmonds, was on the phone with multiple airlines and was about to book me on a flight from Seattle to Phoenix to Denver to Austin with an arrival at 8:30p. It would definitely mess up my car rental booking and dinner plans so I wasn’t completely thrilled about it. I was still pretty flustered, but my hands were tied so I agreed to book that one. That is, until he said, “WAIT! I think I found a better workaround for you!” Yes, he saved my day! I will now be flying Seattle to Phoenix to Austin with an arrival of 4:30p!

 

You know you’re in Seattle when . . . Hmm, actually, catching a quick read in a rocking chair sounds like a pretty great idea right now!

Dear Dean at the United Airlines booth in SeaTac:

THANK YOU!!

YOU HAVE SAVED MY LIFE! I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!!!

 

Now that I know that time travel is possible and that I’ve safely arrived back in the present day, I’m ready to go and tackle my family with hugs!! Our first order of business once I arrive is a family Chick-Fil-A dinner date! HOLY YUM! The second order will be sleeping!!! Away I go!!

 

Sporting my Westside Softball shirt in solidarity with our team, who is playing the season tournament today without me. 😥

Grow Up And Be Kids

Me and my pops in front of the Six Flags

 

It’s pretty common to see strained Father + Daughter relationships featured on both the big and little screen. It’s a typical story of,

“But Dad, I love him!”

“You can’t tell me what to do—you’re not the boss of me!”

“I can’t be your little girl forever. Just let me go.”

“You were never there for me.”

 

While I understand that it’s a reality that many face and can relate to, I can’t help but feel blessed when I look back on the memories I’ve shared with my own Father and find that none of those phrases were ever uttered. My dad was actually my best sidekick, growing up. I am a Daddy’s girl through and through. I don’t just mean that in the vein of always getting what I want and wrapping Daddy ‘round my little finger, though I have had plenty of those moments. I mean that in the vein that he taught me how to be a respectable young lady who fights for justice, peace, and continuously looks for the good in people. He still let me have my boy crushes—without embarrassing me in front of them, might I add—and my emotional meltdowns, but through it all, he steadily reminded me that when I’m hurting and lonely, his loving arms are there to hold me through it all.

 

Best Buddies

 

My pops has been such a huge part of my growth as a fairly well-balanced person surrounded by hardships on all sides. As I faced all of the questions and complexities of adolescence, I knew I could count on my dad to point me in the right direction. Together we met face-to-face with tough life decisions, like my choice to NOT attend a traditional college, but instead to pursue an education at Master’s Commission of Austin—a hands-on ministry training program. When family members on my mother’s side of the family grew to believe that I was not interested in men because of my single lady, childless, status, my father reassured me that I didn’t have to fit that certain mold and that I didn’t have to let their completely absurd generalizations set me back or label me as “less than.” He encouraged me to live every day as if it were a new adventure, treasuring every moment as if it were my last. We debated some of my toughest non-/convictions and He graciously listened and helped me see a different perspective, yet always allowed me to make an ultimate choice for myself as to what I truly believed was the wisest thing for me. He encouraged me to keep writing, keep dreaming, and keep believing for the best!

 

We know how to party! 😉

 

In return, I kept him on his toes and kept him young with my pranks and shenanigans. I mean, c’mon, any dad that lets his grown daughter smash a cupcake on his cheek for fun is pretty awesome—just sayin’! 😉 I love that he still knows how to have fun! Even as adults, we play games together. One of my favorites to play with him is a car game. As he drives and focuses on the road ahead, I will stare him down from the side and then, just as he turns his head to see what I’m up to, I’ll snap my head away as if I wasn’t watching at all. We keep doing this until he catches my eye and says, “Gotcha!” Then we laugh and laugh and laugh, enjoying our complete silliness! I also went through a season of life where a whole lot of my friends continuously referred to him as Mr. Amanda, and he would always answer to them, not offended in the least that the focus was on my name, and not necessarily his. Instead, he laughed at it and encouraged it!

 

Our fave hangout!

 

He has also GREATLY influenced my life spiritually! My faith was not found in a church pew or a revival service. It wasn’t found in a dish of Holy Water or in a Sunday School lesson. It was found at 3 a.m. when my Father drove over to my best friend’s house to rescue me from a slumber party because I had an allergic reaction to their dog and couldn’t breathe. It was found in a hospital bed in the form of a giant teddy bear to cheer me up after having an intense kidney surgery. It was also found years before that on a cushy bed, covered in tears and cries of agony, where he changed my wound dressing after an emergency appendectomy. Through every meltdown, his unconditional love has been a rescue. Through every disappointment, his hopeful encouragement has been a healing salve. Through every shining moment of success, his pride and congratulatory spirit have carried me from one stepping stone to another. Because of the love, encouragement, discipline, and understanding of my earthly father, it’s easier for me to embrace the love of my Heavenly Father. My dad, Ramon Martinez, Jr., is my very own “Jesus with skin on.” I could not be more blessed to have him in my life!

 

Dynamic Duo

 

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy-O!