As we had dinner with our son and his new wife the other night, we got the low down on their fabulous two-week honeymoon to Greece and Italy. Jenni is big into social medial so throughout the trip, we were able to see highlights of gorgeous beaches, quaint villages, amazing sunsets and their beautiful faces enjoying it all along the way. One of our favorite shots we’d seen on Instagram was the two of them together on a moped – Ben driving and Jenni on the back, snapping shots as they meandered down and around the beautiful Tuscan landscape and into breathtaking wineries along the way. The scenery – and the two of them could not have been more perfect and happier. As we began our meal, Jenni went on to tell us the true story behind that day – as she said, “What goes on behind the Instagram post.” In reality, and no, the photos were not photo shopped, there was just such an amazing backstory that happened as they were winding down their day. Having visited the last winery on their route and getting ready to head back the 30 plus miles to return the bike, was when the real adventure began. The sun was beginning to set and it was time to consolidate before heading back. With this, Ben carefully and meticulously began to pack all of their mementos and personal effects for the day (three bottles of wine they’d purchased along the way and their backpack into the small compartment under the seat. They both a bit of surprise and a sigh of relief when they heard the click of the seat lock, securing their items in place. With that, Jenni jumped on the back of the bike and Ben, reaching into his pocket to get the key to start the bike, had a sudden “Oh no” realization of…panic. The key that they needed to start the bike was locked inside the compartment he’d just packed. Without the key, they literally couldn’t get to the key to start the bike. Luckily, Ben had not packed his phone amongst the now inaccessible items but that was just about all of the good news. They were literally up a creek without a paddle, or more appropriately, 30 miles from home in a country in which they didn’t speak English, at a winery that now had closed. What we’ve always known about Ben is that he has an uncanny way of figuring out any situation that he finds himself in – which is very fortunate for our son who seems to find himself in quite a few. We actually call him “America’s Guest” because as he goes throughout life, doors seem to just open and potentially “bad” things seem not just to stay at bay, but transform into something either fun or memorable or both. Jenni, too, lives life this way and she, in fact, also has a super power. Fun seems to follow Jenni everywhere – much like a Jack in the Box needing just one final crank to leap forth, the adventures when Jenni is around is always exciting and never predictable. After a quick collaboration, they decided that Jenni would stay with the bike and Ben would figure out a way to sweet talked his way back into the winery before the last of the family members shut off the lights and left for home – which, of course, he did. With that, he was able to connect to WIFI to find the phone number to call the bike shop for any help – if that was even possible. To his relief, Alfonso, the young man they’d rented the bikes from, answered. (Alfonso, by the way, wasn’t the owner of this shop – just an employee). Ben explained the situation and Alfonso, who, in an easy and laid-back way let Ben know that because the bike he’d rented was an older bike, it could be started remotely. With a few keyboard keys, Alfonso (who also turned out was a techy), got the bike to start. Crisis averted… not quite so fast. The other small issue was that the electric bike had only a 20% charge, and the charging mechanism needed to charge the bike was underneath the locked seat. Ben and Jenni’s only hope of making their way back was to use the downward slope of the mountainside to their advantage, coasting as much as they could, reserving the battery as much as they could. It wasn’t long before it became increasingly apparent that this wouldn’t work. With that, on the side of the road, another call was made to the small bike shop and once again, thankfully, Alfonso answered. “Yes, my friend,” Alfonso said,” (and they were all becoming fast friends (Super Power)) “this is a dilemma. Continue down the road and call me when either the bike dies or you’ve reached a town where you can charge.” With that, Ben and Jenni got back on the bike, and continued on. With less than 2% of a battery, they rolled into a small town but, alas, no charging station found. Not to worry, help was on the way - Alfonso, now way past closing time, arrived in his small car with a ring of moped bike keys. One by one, he tried each one until they all heard that almost inaudible click. “Don’t worry, my friend, it is all ok. There is a charging station and a very good restaurant just a few miles down the road. I’ll follow you there.” Once again, Ben and Jenni, aloft the bike, now with Alfonso in tow, took off down the road with the empty charge light well-lit on the bike handle. Ten minutes later they coasted into the little hillside restaurant. Alfonso helped them to get plugged in and then walked them inside where he was greeted by this restaurant owners with warm regard. He introduced the two to the owners, recapped their predicament, as Ben and Jenni now sighing a bit of relief. With the charge needed two hours to complete, it was now time for dinner (Ben’s super power was well intact). After recommending all of his favorites and instructing Ben to just drop the key in the door when they got back, Alfonso took his leave.
After we laughed about this story and our own dinner was coming to an end, we asked both Ben and Jenni if they had a favorite experience of the trip. Jenni couldn’t come up with one – because there were just so many, but Ben’s was quite profound. “You know,” he said, “I honestly think it was after that dinner, Jenni and I made our way back into town along those winding roads with the sun setting and beautiful light all around us. It was quiet and serene and beautiful. I think if I had to pick one, that would be it.” Jenni then added that even in the midst of all of what had happened when things were looking a little bleak, neither she nor Ben got upset with one another. They simply were in it and worked to get through it, and even laughed a bit about it in the midst of it – and there was such an ease in that. As I cleaned up after the kids had left that night, I thought back on their adventurous stories, specifically their mountainside winery ride. It occurred to me that the beauty of the moment isn’t always in the Instagram photo – although those are beautiful – but it’s often in the story behind the scenes – in the adventure and in the journey along the way. When we can slow down and enjoy the ride, even staying in peace and calm in those seemingly disastrous moments, we can get the full view of what really is. And that is a place so worth being because it is in those moments that we are fully present in it all. When we can do that, we find our Alfonso’s and roadside plug-in stations and everything else in between. And those are the moments that aren’t only priceless, they last a lifetime.
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AuthorKristyn Baker, CECP, is an intuitive energy healer and writer. Her forty years of working with energy medicine has evolved as she has expanded her own healing abilities and understandings. Combining her abilities as an Emotion Code practitioner and Simpson Protocol practioner with her intuitive insights and channeling, opens opportunities to heal and to release what no longer serves. . Archives
January 2023
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