Turbulence and Itchy Palms

There's an old superstition that says that when your palms itch it means money, a Giving and a Receiving. An itching left palm means money is to be paid out, while an itching right palm says that money is coming in. To stop the left palm from itching, the superstition says to rub the palm on a piece of wood. The left hand is the passive or receptive, and the right is the active. When the left palm itches, look for new energy or services coming into your life. The right palm itching means energy or services going out, meaning what you might get paid for.

My mother whole-heartily believes in 'old wife's tales.' Naturally, this is passed down to me, who naturally looks for a deeper meaning.  The 'metaphysical' explanation to this superstition would be interpreted as new internal energy moving through the hands. Of course, this makes sense to me, as we and everything living is made up of energy. This is instinctual, a sense that most humans have long since let slip away from us.  

Me, being the intense true Scorpio that I am, believe always that there is a hidden meaning behind everything, always trying to search for what is going on behind the scenes. 

That being said, I have an itching right palm today. Batter Up! I am ready to receive! The Lottery would be great.... 

just sayin'

Which brings me to a story of what happened almost one year ago today. (My ADD always leads from one story to another, almost everything is relate-able, although my husband doesn't either agree or follow along so great!) 

For the past 4 years, I have gone on a trip with my sister to watch my nephew golf. He was awarded a golf scholarship to a New Orleans University, and that was our destination for 3 incredibly fun years. Last year, it was Florida.  The trip took place at the end of some crazy storms in the southern states. The first plane that we boarded was smaller than a Popsicle stick, so I was actually excited to see that we were flying on a 'real' plane for the 2nd leg. 

As I nervously boarded the plane, my thoughts were all over the place, but mostly in a place where the plane comes crashing down. I am admittedly afraid of flying. There is no substance for this, just another part of my irrational fear of heights. This irrational fear brings forth an irrational thought process. My sister and I booked separately, so we were not seated together for any of the flights. As I approached my seat, I became acutely aware that I would be sitting between 2 men with dark sunglasses on, who would most surely blow up the plane! Oh well, then I would be the first to go. I timidly sat between these 2 men. I intensely set my heals into the book I was reading. About 1/4 of the way into the flight, we hit our first bump! and it was no minor bump, it was rather significant, such that many passengers exclaimed out loud. Immediately following this, the pilot asked the flight attendants to go to their seats and for all passenger to restrain from using the bathroom and keep their seat-belts fastened. Now this cannot in any way, shape or form, be a good sign. It was indicative to the shake rattle and roll that the plane was due to experience. The plane was in store for a bumpy ride. Perfect. Upon the next 'fall' sensation that we experienced, I immediately and instinctively grabbed for the arm of the sun-glassed man to the left of me. 

What happened next, till this day, still surprises me. Upon grabbing his arm, the man began, in a very soft, low voice, speaking to me words of encouragement and wisdom. Really. He continued to do this for the next 45 minutes or so (and it did seem much longer!), until we were out of the turbulence. At one point, when the plane bounced down and back up again, I grabbed the gentleman on my rights hand. Crazy but true, he began to do the same thing! Words of wisdom and encouragement  about life. Life's lessons and how at the end of the turbulence, the sun will come out and shine brighter than before. It will be calm and celebratory. Really? How so. Can I not just jump out of this plane right now? That thought only crossed my mind momentarily, because, to be honest, I was absolutely and intently memorized by the words that both of these kind strangers with dark sunglasses were saying.

While I was experiencing this, and me being me, I couldn't help but wonder if this was some 'vision' or 'fore-telling' from a stranger as to what my life was about to experience. It was at a time in our life when we seemed to be headed to a good place. The business was going well, we had good customers and our home life was good. After safely landing, I thanked both men, rather in a state of awe and departed the flight. Upon picking up our luggage and walking through the airport, we did not see the men again, but their words have remained with me to this day.

(As it turned out Cindy had a pretty amazing experience herself. The lady that she sat next to was very anxious about the turbulence, but for different reasons.  Cindy did her best to calm the lady and kept her occupied with what she does best and that is talking. The lady relayed that she had just completed a book and is in the process of filming a movie title, 'Soul Survivor,' which focus on plane crashes in which there is only one survivor. She said to the lady, "You think you are nervous look at my sister! She's holding onto two men's hands that she doesn't even know!")

The holiday was wonderful! My sister and I had a fantastic time and it was wonderful to have my mother-in-law show us the town! On the last evening of our trip, my husband called. He was having some problems with a customer. I would be home the next day and we can settle whatever needs to be settled and move forward. 

Upon arriving home, the turbulence began. Turbulence that has knocked us both down with experiences that we could never have anticipated. It's been a tough year, really tough. Some days I feel like a punching toy, one that you hit and it bounces back up. I do keep getting back up. Some days it is really really difficult. But I do. We have done much during this time with very little. But I cannot help but wonder when the turbulence is going to end and the sunny skies appear. I often think back to my flight and what the strangers with the dark sunglasses were saying to me. Hope. That is the true Gift that those men gave me. I am most grateful. Hope that there will be a big celebratory sun dance at the end of all of this craziness. 

What I do know is that you cannot push through the plane, jump out of it or make it go any faster. You just have to experience it, knowing that it will  come to an end, that the sun will shine. trust. Going around the turbulence may take one off course, after all life is about Lessons and Learning. Sometimes we must Experience the turbulence,trust your instincts, the signs, what our bodies feel, know that there are lessons, some that are more difficult than others. Let go of the struggle, let it be and Rejoice in the wake of the Rainbow.

For today, I have an itchy palm.