Miracles do happen.My last asking for this year involves something I NEVER would have imagined doing last July.
I....
Hold on.
Let's backtrack.
Before this unexpected evening, I completed my first request for the day by asking something for someone else.
A friend called me for some travel advice. She is on a very strict budget, but wants to buy a plane ticket for her son so he could be with them when the husband/father turns 50 around Labor Day. This man just had a heart attack, so the whole family is excited to finally be together for this milestone.
Could I help her look online to book a supercheap ticket?
I checked a few sites, but it didn't look good. Prices are lower than last year, but not low enough.
So instead of giving her airline or website recommendations, I did something a little more extreme.
With her permission, I wrote an email to one of the airlines that services their two cities and asked for a discount or courtesy ticket.
I know this woman is in debt, and she really shouldn't put this on her credit card.
So maybe, maybe, maybe, the airline will agree to lower the cost.
Before I could write to any more airlines, she called and said she put the flight on her card after all, because she didn't want to risk a "no" and miss the last available seats at the lowest price.
Gained I: Tried to help. Didn't work out as I'd hoped. Glad the family will be together that weekend anyway.
As for tonight.
I was sitting at my dining room table, alone.
Tabulating the data from this year of inquiries.
Mr. A is in LA for a conference. The house seemed really empty.
And I was a little down.
It was not how I imagined I'd be spending the last night of asking.
Inviting myself to drive someone's cool car? Maybe.
Crashing someone's party? Why not.
Asking a pastry chef for his awesome banana bread pudding recipe? Yum.
But crunching numbers seemed like such a... whimper, not a bang.
Then the phone rang.
"What are you up to?"
It was Jem.
"Nothing much. How are you?"
"Good! I'm calling to see if you want to go to dajin."
"Where's that?"
"The gym."
"Did you say G-Y-M?"
"Yeah! The K-meister just got me a membership and we're on our way over."
"Really. Mmm, I'm not sure I have time.... I'm sort of busy..."
"They have a pool, and a sauna! Come on!"
"Really?"
I weighed the two alternatives: Sit home alone and stare at the wall. Or meet some friends for a workout.
"If I come, can we hang out after too? Get a drink or dinner?"
"I would love to."
Half an hour later I was on a stationary bike, watching CNN.
The place wasn't half bad.
Clean.
Good music.
Badminton courts, unlimited yoga. Stuff I'd vaguely considered looking into. One day.
On the way out, I stopped by the membership desk. The girl told me there is no signup fee -- today only -- and no cancellation fee, ever.
So I signed up myself and Mr. A.
But not before asking for -- and getting -- a free month.
Gained II: 3 months for the price of 2. Value: $30.
Did I sufficiently tantalize you? When you read that gooey first line, about miracles, did you expect I'd say I knocked on the door of the White House or asked Steve Jobs about his surgery or begged my grad school for an expedited PhD?
Well, until tonight, any of those possibilities struck me as more feasible than La Roxy joining a gym!!!
I crave sunlight, not elliptical machines.
But so be it.
So that's that.
365 days.
Done!
Poof!
Finito!
Results and revelations coming soon. But first I'm taking a break.
Until we meet again,
xoxo,
La Roxy
