Non-Cancelable Flights by Nannette Croce

You know the feeling. You’re staring at your itinerary on Expedia or Travelocity, index finger hovering over the mouse, heart pounding. Once you click “Submit” it’s a done deal. No going back. Okay, you can purchase the cancelation insurance, but that only applies in drastic cases––things you don’t want to even think about lest you call up those evil spirits you’re forever knocking from any nearby wood.

Sometimes, though, that non-cancelation policy can be a good thing. Like when you are experiencing ambivalence about the writer’s workshop you will be attending in just two––gulp––weeks now. Yes, I’m still on that one. Bet you’ll all be glad when it’s over.

Me too.

Well, not really. I think that now, but I know that last night I will be wishing it could go on longer. You see, I’ve been in this situation before. I’ve even felt that way about fun trips I’ve taken from time to time, like the time I left on Father’s Day for the first trip I took on my own in years or, once, when my daughter suffered her first major break-up the day before I was set to leave for my 50th birthday Pottery Tour of the Southwest.

And every time I’ve lost that feeling the minute I arrived at the hotel.

I sometimes wonder, if I could easily cancel my flight, get all the money back, even lose just $50 or so, how many trips would I have skipped the last minute? How many great times would I have missed? How many learning experiences would I have passed on?

I can’t get my money back now. Not for the flight or the workshop.

Eventually, I’ll be grateful for that.