Step 1 – break toe.
Kicking the corner of a nightstand at 6am is one way to jump start a morning. Following the toe folding collision, one can find themselves hopping across the bedroom while whisper cursing, which in this case, led to a full collision with a dresser. The stylistic “hip-check” of the dresser following the morning toe folding is not the way I wanted to get my morning started. Sometimes things just don’t work out the way we thought, do they?
“At least I get to see Hamilton with my wife, tonight.”
Step 2 – spend time with those you love.
I’ve seen bits and pieces of Hamilton via Disney+, but I typically shut it off as my internal dialogue reassured me that I’d buy tickets, eventually, so when the show announced a stop in East Lansing, Michigan (Wharton Center), I decided it was time. This purchase was made in October 2024 and our show was scheduled for May 21st. It was now – May 21st and I’ve kicked my toe, hip checked a dresser and started my day with more than two dozen curse words.
Good morning!
Step 3 – distractions.
Work has been tumultuous for two years. My industry and most of the working world finds itself in a uniquely gross place, so my 8-10 daily meetings have an ominous feel, as we work through what I’d call our version of survival planning. Layoffs have been frequent and because of the role I play, this means that I deliver terrible news, all while planning for what might occur if I must receive one of the messages I’ve been delivering.
Step 4 – you have the tickets, right?
I was running a few minutes late – needed to be on the road by 5pm – and it was 5pm and I was just getting changed. The last few years has given me the opportunity to choose being a grumpy asshole or an enlightened and peaceful soul. I’ve chosen grumpy asshole more often than enlightenment. To stay consistent with that vibe, my wife and I argued most of the way to East Lansing and in the middle of a rude and condescending sentence, my brain quickly pivoted to…where are our tickets? StubHub typically sends transfers approximately 3 hours before show time, and we were 30 minutes into a 90-minute drive, I was being grumpy, and then I had to get on the phone with StubHub to find our tickets- what could go wrong?
Step 5 – are you fucking kidding me!
StubHub: “our seller had a problem.”
Me: “no shit.”
StubHub: “this is your fault – you should have seen an email from us.”
Me: “what kind of shit show are you running, here?”
Also Me: “I want my money back, so I can feel more peaceful about driving home, after driving to the theater (at your request) and picking up my tickets from Will Call, because your seller had a problem with your site.”
StubHub: “we’ll have to refer this to the internal team”.
Me: “are you the external team?”
StubHub: “we’ll do the best we can.”
My wife (sitting shot gun and listening and now power whispering): “give us our money back.”
Step 6 – laughter for the win.
My wife’s comment stopped my mental toe stubbing, and I laughed. She laughed. We muted StubHub (they weren’t laughing) and then we were put on hold, again. A minute later – StubHub stopped blaming us and processed a refund. We drove home and chatted it up – we had a romantic dinner (McDonald’s) and the conversation kept on.
Step 7 – the couch is more comfortable than the theater.
We made it home and decided to flip on Disney+. If we weren’t going to see Hamilton live, for now, we were going to watch it from start to finish. We did and we loved it. I realized something last week. The universe is unconditional. I wanted to see Hamilton and I did. It wasn’t the way I planned it. It wasn’t the Venue I assumed it would be, but nonetheless, we saw Hamilton. Life is always going to throw us curves, wrenches, complications, and my learning: we’ll always get to see our version of Hamilton. Whatever you might be facing in this journey of yours, remember that no matter what is occurring – you’ll get to see your version of Hamilton even if you have to kick furniture, miss tickets, fight with a partner, all before you realize that laughter stops the insanity in its track and allows for the choice to see the infinite ways our lives have beauty and goodness.
God bless all of you- and may He send peace to you during your times on this planet.
Much love- Trav
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