Power of Shine

We arrived at the airport at 1:30 p.m. ready to depart Louisville.

We arrived in Dallas at 12:30 a.m.

I crawled into bed at 1:40 a.m.

Other than that, Taste of USA was a success. If you were not able to attend, have no fear, we will be using part of this week to recap highlights. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we will share favorite craft ideas from Taste of USA. Friday we will take time-out to reflect on highs, lows, and ahas for the month, and on Saturday Heather will present a short video recapping highlights from the day. It’s a week you won’t want to miss.Saturday’s Taste of USA festivities were capped off with an official ribbon cutting for our Shine Rayvolution (click here to find out more). We unveiled shirts designed by you months ago and encouraged participants to purchase a shirt for someone who they think shines. Don’t worry, we saved shirts for you and hope you too will consider presenting a shirt to someone who you think shines. You’ll never find a better gift for $10.00. Get yours by posting in the comment section or sending an note to our email at info@highlowaha.com

Heather, Cheryl, and I had to put our money where our mouth is… or at least live the Shine shirts we were wearing. Our flight was to be delayed by more than ten hours. Rather than mope about travel plans gone awry, we shined. The three of us embarked on a game of Purse Scavenger Hunt. I shouted out an item and they searched their purses to see who could retrieve it first. Point to whoever was successful.

The three of us radiated fun and before long all eight rows of stranded passengers, and even some from Gate A11, joined us in a louder and rowdier version. Give me a: Band-Aid, reward card from a supermarket, breath mints, a blue pen, a rubber band, a receipt from Target, a driver’s license from a state other than Texas, aspirin, and the list of items went on. Zilpha won (a handmade card from our very own Peggy), but we all had fun.

Then we held an anniversary party. Peggy (a different one) and Chris were stuck in the airport, instead of celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas as planned. Quick, and in true Highlowaha fashion, Heather, Cheryl, and I rallied the troops of Gate A14, rummaging and scrounging until we found the makings of an anniversary party.

Cheryl busted out with a homemade box and filled it with chocolate kisses (compliments of Robin) and I tied it with left over ribbon. Heather took a portrait of the couple on her iPhone and emailed it to Peggy to commemorate their special day. Tammy donated an extra bag of personalized m&ms from her anniversary. The green ones said, “Eat the green ones” and the pink ones said, “I want you now.” Wendy donated a piece of Fruit Leather (treats for health conscious people), which was perfect since the 29th anniversary gift is… new furniture. We even tried to get the teenaged girl with dyed jet-black hair, an oversized camouflage hoodie, and a guitar to serenade Peggy and Tammy. She said no.

There was more. We made friends with Shawn and his new-found friend Kenny we cheered on Jordan who took up residence in an empty wheel chair and aptly moved from one place to another, and we made friends with Joe and Susie from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

But what really happened yesterday in terminal A was a reminder of the power of shining. For all intent and purposes a horrific day of travel. But armed with Shine shirts and the right attitude Heather, Cheryl, and I were able to build a community. Yesterday we shined and because of it many peoples’ days were made brighter.

How will you shine today and whose day will you make?