Friday, January 7, 2011

“Caution, the moving walkway is ending…”

“Caution, the moving walkway is ending…Caution, the moving walkway is ending…Caution, the moving walkway is ending…Caution, the moving walkway is ending…Caution, the moving walkway is ending…”
The “lady” at Washington National Airport has been telling me this for years. Her repetitive announcement; admonishing users of the moving sidewalk to prepare their disembarkation from the services of said pedal expediting device has long since become my welcome home. Kind of a reverse “honey I’m home”. She offers her fair warning in the same tone and cadence time after time. The only variance is when I’m hearing her greeting at one-thirty in the morning, like I did last night. Then there’s only one recipient of her sound advice—me. Washington National becomes a ghost town after midnight.
So she welcomed me home after my maiden consulting voyage of 2011. Here we go again and I couldn't be more aware of my blessings. Another year of airports, hotels, flights, delays, new clients old clients. Keynote talks, consulting projects, seminars and workshops. Thought leader meetings and a little networking and relationship nurturing. And for me, one of the biggest thrills…the pitch…the new client opportunity…the big idea…closing the deal.
More hotel rooms and frequent whatever points. Hotel kit manifest in twenty dollar packs of cashews and seventeen dollar cans of sparkling sugar water. Some rooms better than others. The Hilton Anatole in Dallas wasn't too shabby.
Last minute cramming and rehearsing…prepping for my deliverable…something that I should have done weeks ago. Pulling it out of my butt five minutes before being miked by the session producers…snaking the cord through a couple of buttons on a starched Flusser shirt and clipping the transmitter to the waistband...in the small of my back on a pair of flat front Polo Ralph gabardine trousers. Then stepping on stage and knocking it out of the park. I’ve been rolling this way for too many years to try and change course.
 Here's to another year of carpet and tile Jeopardy. And I'll give you the first one of 2011. Lobby atrium...Hilton Anatole Dallas. Suede monk straps...brown pin dot socks courtesy of the Brethren. Polo Ralph flat front side tab gabardine trousers...slimmer silhouette...Thom Browne...kiss my ascot.
 And to always having a non-professional intellectual outlet for this crazy-ass active mind of mine. I re-read The Great Gatsby this week.
 Onward…home from Dallas…up to my eyeballs in blessings and gearing up to listen to another lady’s voice of reason. It’s my LFG weekend. Bliss.

ADG II

12 comments:

James said...

I wish a long lasting and joyous weekend with your Princess of Hearts.

Southern H and H said...

Hope your trip to TX was nice. We generally know how to treat someone to a good time.

I'm interested to know, being so close to DC, if you have been to the National Book Festival? It has been on my radar for a few years, just haven't had the opportunity to attend.

Also, if you are going to be in TX again in October, you should consider attending the TX Book Festival in Austin.

LPC said...

Congratulations on your success. Enjoy it.

heavy tweed jacket said...

Welcome back. Rereading books is a bit like going through the same airports time and again, one notices small details. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

"Pulling it out of my butt five minutes before being miked...stepping on stage and knocking it out of the park."

I would give up my kingdom, my practice and that chaise to be able to watch you do your tricks on a youtube vid.

yoga teacher said...

In yoga teacher speak, "pulling it out of my butt five minutes before" translates to "Wow, the yoga angels were in attendance." But we all know what really happens. (And no one will let me near a mike.)
If you get your druthers next time, try the Melrose. Small. Great bar.
For now, though, enjoy your weekend with your kiddo!

Sandra said...

My daughter is rereading The Great Gatsby right now also. I taught the novel for years and reread it every time. Only loved it more each time . . . Have a great weekend with your Precious one. {I'm having a granddaughter:-)} xoxo

NCJack said...

"Caution, the moving walkway is ending" is a fine old classic, but I think my fave is still the every-90-seconds version of "Keep your luggage with you at all times; do not accept packages from strangers". Always fills me with the mellow, soulful desire to strangle her.

ADG said...

NCJack...I finally asked why the query us on whether a stranger has asked us to carry something...it stems from...well, you tell me if you know!

Preppy101...Congrats on the granddaughter news!

YogaOne...the gods are always in attendance...it's just a matter of whether or not we like what they've decided to manifest for us on a particular day. That's what keeps me grateful and marginally humble. And I've stayed at the Melrose, it's nice. I usually don't get to pick my hotel...my clients do.

James...thanks. They are never long enough.

Flo...you'll never see my tricks on video. We don't allow any recording of our presentations. And I've said it a zillion times...you don't want the chaise.

HeavyTweed...thanks...I'm in the midst of that great weekend right now. And speaking of noticing small things, I can hardly find a photo of John O'Hara that doesn't show him manifesting the text book BBOCBD collar roll.

LPC...Prunella, thanks. I just feel more blessed than usual because the world and our economy remains so darned fragile.

Southern H and H ...LFG and I LIVE for the book festival. I get as much of an adrenaline rush approaching the tents during the festival activities as I used to get when the house lights would dim just before rock concerts began. Sad I know.

James...thanks. They are never long enough.

lisa golightly said...

The moving sidewalk at SFO ... fond, fond memories. Whenever I step on one I am that little girl ready for adventure Merry Merry, Happy New Year. Your sock's truly capture the feel of their environment !

Young Fogey said...

"Pulling it out of my butt five minutes before being miked by the session producers…"

That's how I teach, and how I make presentations, too--but without the mike, usually.

When it comes to teaching, I've taught the basic materials enough that I know them in and out, forwards and back, yet because there's always space between this time and last time, it's never stale. With other stuff, it's all seat-of-the-pants--but it's better that way.

Have fun with LFG!

ADG said...

FogeyYoung...we are having fun. Science project and a poetry project still in the works....thanks. And you're spot on re my statement about winging it. I'm not unprepared...I know my content backwards and forwards...I just hate to rehearse, and because I'm a pretty good public speaker, I do just fine. I hate being miked too but when my audience exceeds forty or so, I relent. My voice carries pretty well for a pygmy.

Lisa...thanks. Happy New Year.