This year, after much debate, I decided to stay in Dubai. My bday fell on a Saturday and wanted to take advantage of the weekend and not travel too much (especially that I just took a continuing education course that took 2 weekends in a row and I just needed a full weekend!).
Now comes my topic of Unpredictability.... a bit different than the "Changes" one I wrote about a little awhile ago (hmm... am I getting more philosophical? haha). A few things happened over the weekend that reminded me how unpredictable life can be and how to take things in stride.
1. On Friday before my bday I was on skype with my parents and after a little catch up and a few happy bday singing to me, came "welll...... we have some bad news." Ugh oh. When parents say that, you know it's not good. Just like that my heart fell. Then came "we have to cancel our trip to Belgrade, Dubai, and Maldives (which was going to be a little belated bday present) in May." My heart fell a little more. To make a looooong loooooong story short, my dad's hospital had an unexpected emergency situation, some management and restructuring, and because my dad is on the board of the hospital and chairman, he basically was chosen to lead discussions on all these topics, deal with media, lawyers, etc. As this JUST happened and he is somewhat in charge, there is no way he can leave in the midst of a crisis. Although my heart fell with the news that they can't come, which I was really looking forward to their visit, it swelled up again knowing my dad is a true true leader and hero. The situation sounds like a true mess, but he is staying calm, staying positive, and trying to pull everyone together to get through this crisis. I am so proud of him! I can imagine how tough it is with all the pressure around and all the changes, but he is being proactive and again, leading by example - keeping spirits up and bringing "courage under fire" as they say. They are hoping when things settle a bit, they can come later this year or early next year. "In shallah" as they say here, translation "god willing," or "I hope so!"
2. Having my bday at the end of April and growing up in Chicago, I would say more than 1/2 my bdays have been rainy. But ah ha, NOW I am living in the desert where it hardly ever rains so I put that possibility wayyy behind me. For my bday I planned a "Beach Day" with some 15 or so of my friends, just to lounge around, catch up, go walking and swimming, just relax by the beach! The day before I did some grocery shopping and fortunately, bought healthy snacks that I would be happy to have as leftovers. So Saturday rolls around and I wake up and it is looking quite gloomy. I didn't think too much about it. Then I had to run a quick errand and I felt a few drops of rain. Hmmm??? Then a friend called me to ask me if the beach day was still going on considering the rain. Uh oh. I look up "hourly weather in Dubai" and see progressive 50% chance of rain... then 60% chance of rain... then 70% chance of rain right about the time that I was going to have people get together in the afternoon. Seriously????/ I've been in Dubai for a little more than 1.5 years and I literally can count on ONE hand how many times it has rained. Of ALL the days... my bday?! Okay, I quickly thought of a Plan B, to meet at a really nice Cafe (usually quiet and empty with good food) in my complex. So fortunately everyone still made it and we just had a nice get together and celebration. Sooo... it all worked out! It really poured that day and... I'm trying to think positive that it is a sign of good luck for the rest of the year :-) It's still odd to me to have a completely "new" group of friends because for the last decade I've been celebrating with more or less the same people from home (whom I miss!). Here's a snap of myself and my 2 co-workers, Caterina and Helen.
3. So a friend that I literally haven't seen in almost 6 months (for some reason, it's always impossible to get together, but we've been on contact over email, etc) popped in for my bday, which was super nice and a bit unexpected because she really wasn't sure if she could come by at all. So we were just chatting and she was talking about "desperately" needing a R&R vacation. My ears popped up, "what was that?" Soooo.... loong story short, and this isn't even confirmed yet, BUT as our trip to Maldives is paid for and booked, I HATED the idea to cancel it all (plus, this is the 3RD time I've been trying to get there, ugh), sooo..... cross your fingers that she decides to go and my Maldives dream will be fulfilled! Of course I'm sorry to not be there with my parents, and they were soooo nice about me still going, but it will always be there and hopefully we can go at another time :-) Totally unpredictable that she not only stopped by at my bday gathering in the 1st place, BUT that she has the time off and $$ for it (that's the biggest hold back for people, it's uber expensivo).
4. The last of the last... babies. All mom's are given an expected birth date, but it's completely unpredictable when he/she wants to enter the world. Well, my cousin Alex and his wife Amanda were expecting their baby to be born the 3rd week of May (forgot the date). Then on the 4/26 I hear that Amanda is on the way to the hospital... excitement grows that there will be 2 Pavlovic's born on April 27th! And lo and behold, I got the message after midnight (kept me up!) that baby Grace Elizabeth Pavlovic was born at 1:35 om on April 27th, after a good 30 hours of labor (wow!!!), 6 lbs and 6 oz and 18 inches. We are all soooooooooooooooooo excited!! I'm a "tetka" (auntie in Serbian)!!! Mom, dad, and baby are doing great. From Kansas (that's where they live) to Chicago (my parents) to Georgia (where my uncle and aunt live) to Nebraska (where my other cousin, his brother) to Vermont (my brother and fam) to Spain (my sister) and Dubai, Pavlovic celebrations are going on all over the world!!! Here's a picture (so cute! I had those puffy cheeks when I was born!):
Soo... there you have it, a few unexpected events, but life is unpredictable like that. Somehow things always work out!
