Breathe easy, gentle readers. Our European tour was never truly in jeopardy. As it happens, my travel-mate Rhonda is a world class problem solver. She considered my documentation dilemma for only a few seconds before springing into action. As I was dialing my husband’s office number to beg his aid, she was on the phone to her friends, looking for the fastest way to get a passport from Maine to Massachusetts.
By the time we disembarked at Logan, Rhonda had solved the problem. Although my sainted spouse had shifted his entire schedule to attempt the passport delivery, we knew that his Lewiston commute would add too many minutes to the errand. Instead, Rhonda’s friend Diane saved the day. She and her fiancé dashed to my house, grabbed the pertinent paperwork, set a land-speed record on their way to Boston and handed us our passports minutes before Air France closed the boarding gate.
Why do I tell this story? Because I learned much from this incident. First, Rhonda is blessed with very devoted friends. Diane agreed to assist me because she would do anything for Rhonda. This says a lot about the depth of Rhonda’s relationships. Second, Rhonda is great in a crisis. She handled a potential disaster with humor and skill, never once admonishing me for my lack of packing acumen. Finally, Rhonda is a remarkable role model. In our 12-day Tuscan trip, we came to regard Rhonda and my other travel-friend Debra (who never met a non-English labeled tollbooth she couldn’t conquer) as Abigail’s other mothers. Rhonda and Debra are formidable forces — the type of women I am proud to have Abby emulate.
May is a month to celebrate the women in our lives, and in the lives of our offspring. In the spirit of honoring women, the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers is hosting its 8th annual Women’s Wellness Day on Saturday, May 19 at the Sheraton Hotel in South Portland. Highlights include a keynote address by bestselling author Martha Beck, a presentation by percussionist group Inanna and discussions on topics such as heart health and the HPV vaccine. WWD promises to be an inspiring event in large part due to the efforts of one of its lead organizers — my travel companion, Rhonda Lamb, Director of the MaineHealth LRC.
So this Saturday, grab your mother and head to the Sheraton. Listen to the inspiring words of life coach Beck, and learn about the latest in heart health. And thank Rhonda for being a guardian angel to the passport-less, and women everywhere.
For more information on Women’s Wellness Day, call 781-1730.
Dr. Lisa Belisle is a family physician, and medical advisor for the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers. She practices medical acupuncture in Yarmouth, where she lives with her husband and children. Send your travel adventure (and passport misadventure) stories to her at: belisl@mmc.org