Beautiful Contrast

In route to Chicago from Fort Wayne the weather was blowing snow and the roads were treacherous. You could see which counties were properly funded and passionate about snow removal and those that weren't. I was nearly ran off the road by a ginormous semi truck. Sending me into panic and fear that I wouldn't escape my last winter alive!

Upon arriving in Chicago it was blustery and freezing. I spent the night before partying until 7:30 in the AM with my closest peeps, and awoke at 9:30AM to get ready and leave to Chicago. While in route between panic attacks and near death experiences I used helpful affirmations to stay cool and at peace with my wintry travels. The words "Beautiful Contrast" kept coming to mind. This would become the theme for the weekend in the windy city and my first day experience in Auckland, NZ.

I was being reunited with my husband and partner of four years. Our break up was over 6 months ago. Our relationship ended in a tumultuous drama of unhappiness that was thwarted with Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and low self-esteem on both of our parts. These were the core issues that stemmed from us both being overworked and overwhelmed with the conditions of our life. Him with his intensive masters degree program, me owning a time and energy vampire of restaurant.

Much has changed since 6 months ago. He has completed his degree and I have sold my restaurant. Our weekend was beautiful. We got along like the good friends we truly are, and had been. Somewhere in all that dysfunction and overwhelment we lost our friendship and appreciation for each other and ourselves.

To say that this weekend was like old times would be inaccurate. It was better. Better than before. We spoke honestly without fear, our hearts open, and with respect. We had little to no expectations of one another. He made a special effort to do little acts of love and kindness and I recognized them with apprectation and praise.

We had dinner at his restaurant and I had the honor to meet my BBQ hero Leann Whippen. Afterward we met up with his bff, she was a treat and the chemistry with her and his other friends was evident and celebrated. Love was abound and joy was overwhelming. A certain contrast to seven months ago when we separated.

I spent the next 22 hours traveling from the Blue Line in Logans Square, Chicago to Auckland International Airport. When I arrived in Auckland I could feel the humidity rolling down the tarmac. I was most certainly in the Pacific again. Winter was long gone and summer was making its welcome to me.

It is Christmas. But not Christmas in Indiana or Chicago for the matter. It is Christmas in the Summertime! People were wearing flip-flops and shorts. It is completely opposite my schema to have palm trees and summer wears along with Christmas lights, ornaments, wreaths, and all the other decorations associated with Christmas.  Beautiful Contrast Indeed!

Next I had to discover how I was going to make the 14 mile trek into the city from the airport. Public transportation is different here. Actually all transportation is different here. The buses don't necessarily run to a central point and you make changes in a central station. You take them to the city center and then walk to a certain stop and wait for a certain bus. Now once you are on the bus there is no announcement or map on the bus of possible stops that will be coming up. It's mind boggling to the tourist. While riding the blue line to O'hare each and every stop is announce, with the next stop, and which side the door would open. Even friendly reminders like being respectful while on your cell phone, as not to disturb other customers were announced. None of that here.

While determining how to get into Auckland City the thought of renting a car crossed my mind. That quickly came to a halt when I went outside to smoke a cigarette. My first after thirteen hours on New Zealand Air. I noticed an odd circumstance, vehicles were traveling on the wrong side of the road. The concept sounds simple. Just reverse everything you know about driving and do that! After having traveled on the streets of Auckland for even a day now I am grateful that I had the insight that renting a car wouldn't be a wise idea. Even as a passenger I'm still getting freaked out about it.

My host for the few weeks I'll be here works each week day until about 5. We agreed that I would come by the place around 6pm. Giving him time to return home. This meant that I had about ten and a half hours to occupy from landing to arriving at my new abode.

I navigated the bus downtown to the famous Queen Street. I had two suitcases and a back pack. Auckland is a hilly dormant volcano. Moving about with all that baggage was tiring and frustrating. Also I was in desperate need of a shower. I decided that I would get a hotel for my first day and unload my baggage and shower and then go walk around till the evening. In the Arrival Magazine that I had picked up was an advertisement for a room at the All Season's Hotel downtown for $65 a night, which is about $50USD. I thought this was well worth the few hours of respite from my luggage and a nice hot shower.  When I arrived at the All Season's those rooms were all sold out and the next level available was $150. My thought at this point is they probably only have one room for that rate, the janitor's closet, and that it was a bait and switch advertisement to get weary idiots like me to book a room any way!

I had two goals in mind while waiting for my host 1. to get a power adapater so I could plug in my US electronics into these New Zealand outlets and 2. to get a pre-paid cell phone so I could actually be in contact with my new friends here. After I walked up hill to find the shady hotel and was denied, I walked back down the hill and found an electronics store and did just that. Then I went to a very sweet outdoor coffee shop just off the harbor on Queen Street and soaked up a red bull and some very needed free wifi. I called my host and left my new number and started the waiting game.

A miracle!

My host texted me and told me he had taken the day off because of a bad headache. Which meant my waiting time was almost over. It felt like the seas had parted and that minus my uphill trek with two suitcases to a shadily advertised hotel had all been in perfect harmony with my desires.

Now I just had to navigate my way to St. Lukes. Which I did using a scientific calculator and going under a deep trance to channel St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. My host picked me up in his car at the bus stop. I found myself in a beautiful townhouse with my own private room with walk out patio, abundantly free wifi, a hot shower in my private bathroom, good conversation, and a delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner. After dinner we took a car tour of Auckland at night time and I got to see some amazing views of the city that only the locals know about.

My relationship was in shambles
This weekend my relationship was more beautiful than ever before
Where I came from was a wintery blizzard Christmas
Here it is a cool pacific summer
Public transportation in Chicago was spelled out with regular ongoing guidance
Here I had to use the davinci code and a dowsing rod to find my way
Driving on the opposite side of the road isn't as easy as it sounds, its quite strange to get accustomed

Oh the Beautiful Contrast! Because of the hard times I appreciate the good! Because of the Cold I appreciate the warm!