Monday, 18 February 2013

The Gift

As I was leaving, my friend gave me a birthday present. I popped it in my bag to save for the day in a few weeks. I even made a joke, asking "It's not anything I'm going to get in trouble for, is it?". We laughed. She drove me to the airport and bade me farewell.

I walked through security and the bag got reversed back into the x-ray machine for closer inspection. I was just about to ask what the problem was when the woman pulled out my bag and gave it to me, while looking closer at the other bag, the possession of the person behind me.

I boarded the plane.

While sorting out my belongings for the flight, I suddenly thought how simply it could all happen - those naive decisions with terrible, life altering consequences.

Yes, I was only travelling interstate and yes, I'd known this friend for some forty years...but sometimes disastrous events must happen after a small inconsequential moment.

I've still to open the present but I've already been given my gift - I spent a good part of the flight entertained by stories in my mind, all starting with this small innocuous gift. For a person with a massive fear of flying, distraction is the biggest gift of all.


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23 comments:

  1. Anonymous18 February 2013 at 13:34

    That was a close call! Glad it was benign. Zaani @ Heart Mama xx

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    1. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:56

      yes, my lawyer would be blogging about it..."I had a very stupid client..."

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  2. Anonymous18 February 2013 at 16:31

    now I'm curious to know what is in the box!! Gosh, imagine if your friend wasn't who you thought, even after all that time, and there was a bomb in it! There goes my imagination, it's completely run off! I'm scared of flying, too.

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    1. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:55

      Maybe it's something to do with us with fear of flying - over imagination is a symptom (or cause?)

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  3. J Bott18 February 2013 at 17:52

    That is funny, I can imagine having all those thoughts too! What was the present?

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  4. Anonymous18 February 2013 at 19:02

    I love this!
    I can just imagine all the escapades that your mind entertained you with.
    Becc @ Take Charge Now

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    1. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:58

      No doubt you'll be witness to some of the variations over time (here)

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  5. Anonymous18 February 2013 at 19:58

    Please put me out of my misery when you do open it and let me know

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    1. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:54

      Indeed I will...like Pandora, letting out all the evils of the world...

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  6. Anonymous18 February 2013 at 20:34

    Hmm quite the predicament. Look forward to finding out what the gift is.

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    1. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:11

      I can't link thru to your blog? What's the uri?

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    2. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:54

      Some how probably not as interesting as all the illegal possibilities that ran thru my head on the flight...thankfully!

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  7. Me18 February 2013 at 21:48

    Can't wait to hear what is in the box !!! Better to be contemplating what is in the box than holding on white knuckled to the armrest !!!
    Have the best day !
    Me

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  8. Lydia C. Lee18 February 2013 at 22:53

    That's exactly it! Maybe I could sell it as a way to overcome fear of flying...

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  9. carmen19 February 2013 at 00:38

    I'm so with you on that one! I was much better distracted on the flight home then the flight there... ;)
    xx

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    1. Lydia C. Lee19 February 2013 at 16:33

      Only people with a true fear of flying get it!

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  10. Unknown19 February 2013 at 01:28

    I can't believe you haven't opened it yet, you must have a very strong will. My self control is practically non-existent ;)

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    1. Lydia C. Lee19 February 2013 at 16:33

      Not will power, but it's the only gift I'll get, me thinks, so I need to have something to open on the day! (well, I asked my parents for a Gregorys/UBD/SydWays - I know, so old school and so exciting at the same time - my cred just plummeted)

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  11. Grace19 February 2013 at 01:59

    What's in that box???!!! Leaving us all in suspense is just plain cruel, Lydia! :) x

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  12. Lydia C. Lee19 February 2013 at 16:31

    Mwahahahaha! (that's my evil laugh)

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  13. Redcliffe Style23 February 2013 at 12:45

    It would have driven me to distraction too. So what is it? Rachel x

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  14. Lydia C. Lee23 February 2013 at 12:58

    The gift was sensational Tahitian gardenia body lotion that smells amazing...and in the card was a voucher for lunch for 2 at a restaurant! What a clever & lovely idea - I would never have thought of that! My partner & I will go next week when all the kids are at school! Lovely :)

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