Bathroom Friendly

"There´s a kind of luck that´s not much more than being in the right place at the right time, a kind of inspiration that´s not much more than doing the right thing in the right way, and both only really happen to you when you empty your heart of ambition, purpose, and plan. When you give yourself, completely to the golden, fate filled moment" -Gregory David Roberts from "Shantaram"

I sat in Atlanta Airport, tired, stiff and slightly dazed. It was a long night, an even longer 24 hours and I was halfway through a 72 hour day. It started at 5am on Saturday in Santa Cruz, California. I had been there for a month, trying to make a long distance romance work. But the girl was now headed to Holland for a job interview that would have her living there for the next 7 years. We were both leaving the same day and headed to the airport together. Her flight left mid day, while mine at half past twelve in the morning. I spent the day waiting in SF Airport with mixed emotions, thinking about another failed relationship and the prospect of perfect waves in Peru.

I went with the cheapest flight I could get to Lima, Peru. I could've gone direct or even more direct, but cheaper is what I could afford. I flew ass backwards across the U.S. First to Houston with a layover of a few hours and then to Atlanta, Georgia for a six hour layover. The flight from Houston was early, allowing me an extra hour to twiddle my thumbs. After walking the length of the airport a few times and trying to find a comfortable seat, I decided to sit down at some random gate.

My few weeks in California were filled with odd coincidences and the good fortune of meeting up with friends from halfway around the world. Strangely, I kept running into Aussies who were headed to the same places as me in Peru. These coincidences reassured me the decisions I made were leading me to a good place, and I should continue.

It was in Atlanta of all places, at some gate I wasn't supposed to be at, that I saw a familiar face. Then another. Jason Horn, a dentist in the Navy, and his fiancee Sarah, were two old friends who lived down the street from me in Long Beach, NY. It had been almost two years since I last saw them and they were now living in South Carolina. Emails had been passed over time but nothing consistent. I was greeted with a hug and moments later we were sitting down, having lunch and talking story.

I watched them as they ate, their hands and fingers intertwining. Sarah was wearing an engagement ring. Their playful affection and how their smiles complemented each other. I wondered about my own relationships and the long periods spent away from loved ones. Sarah, short and tan, with curly brown hair spoke in her charming Southern accent. "Gosh Tyler, you're so lucky. What an incredible trip you've got there!" I smiled. It was nice seeing them but I decided to put what was behind me away and focus on what was ahead.

After passing on the invitation to join me in Peru, they were off to their gates and gone. I stood amongst the random people, grabbed my backpack, shook my head and allowed myself another grin. Just another in a long string of coincidences, I thought.

I went to my gate, found an outlet on the floor for my Ipod, and sat with my back against the wall. I watched the people people walk by as a crowd formed. I noticed a few fellow gringos on the flight, but most of the passengers looked to be from Peru. From around the corner I noticed a blonde girl walking around with a small purple backpack and a "Phish" badge sown on to it. She stood slightly taller than the Peruvians. She wore faded jeans, with her hair pulled back lightly, clear skin and little if any makeup. She was naturally pretty.

She walked back and forth around the desk at the gate. I guessed she was heading down to Peru for summer holidays or something - probably going to Machu Pichu to hang on the "Gringo Trail." She walked over to me and saw my Ipod plugged in. She asked if she could charge hers as well. I made room for her as she plugged in and sat on the other side of the outlet. I searched for a good question to ask her. I raced through all of them. I didn't want to sound too pretentious, nor too dorky. I wanted to be original but not eccentric. Somewhere in the middle of all that thinking, she asked me where I was heading. I mentioned the town of Huanchaco. She Answered in a sweet southern accent "Really, I work in Trujillo." Trujillo, the 3rd largest city in Peru is a 20 minute drive from Huanchaco. She told me her name was Jordan, and that she had been teaching English in Peru for the last 4 months. I asked where she was from. She mentioned a small island off of Georgia coast. "San Simon?", I inquired. Her brown eyes widened in sup rise."Do you know Steve Schwartz?", I followed. "Oh my god, no way!", she shot back. Her eyes got even wider and then settled. She smiled a little mischievously. Steve and her brother are good friends, and she had had a big crush on him when she was younger. I updated her on Steve: He was married, expecting a kid and living in California.

I was feeling encouraged. Was this pure luck, a random coincidence or a pattern in life that I was beginning to see as a picture or a road map? We boarded the flight, I found my seat and took a moment to reflect. I listened to a mix a friend and former girlfriend had made me. I looked for messages hidden in between the songs she chose. I glanced out the window, confident in my direction and then nodded off, to Peru..