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034 Dina Eastwood_Carmel Mag 7/26/13 7:49 AM Page 1 BEHIND THE SPOTLIGHT DINA EASTWOOD Unexpected Turbulence ife has its ups and downs, as we airport bank to get a cash advance on the one credit card I of turbulence. Actually, it was more tears, deep breaths and a lot of wrangling on the phone cor- L all know, and recently I hit a bit like hitting an air pocket and dropping a few hundred feet. Once I was able to stabilize my ailerons, it hit me that life is a had with me. A fraud alert had been put on the account. More rected the situation and I was back on an airplane to Greece. The retreat took place in a location so remote that there long, one-way trip, destination unknown, with several stops was no village, no ATM to use, no mail delivery. Just stunning pealing. And all the planning in the world can't control the ulti- houses. Complete peace and gratitude washed over me as I along the way. Some locations are beautiful, others quite unap- I dove into downward facing dogs, and quiet moments of reflection about how very interesting and rewarding my 'one-way flight' had been for more than 48 years. mate journey. After an emergency landing of sorts, I was determined to become airborne again. Much to my dismay, my unexpect- ed detour in life caused me to drop out of a yoga teacher-training pro- gram. My yogi made me an offer I coastline reminiscent of Big Sur, a taverna, and a few scattered considered that a mere 48 hours prior, I could not have imagined myself there. Now I could not imagine not being there. I dove into downward facing dogs, and quiet moments of reflection about how very interesting and rewarding my "one-way flight" had been for more than 48 years. I decided to let the next stop unfold without worry. A week, some long-stowed frequent flyer miles and two couldn't refuse: Join her in Crete, eager teen-aged girls later, I found myself flying to Italy to meet and I could make up the few hours I couple nights, and we roamed freely after that, trusting "the Greece, for a yoga retreat, and she had left to study. I would be able to become certified. With tremendous support from family and friends (my 16-year-old daughter almost pushed me out the door!) I bought a ticket on Wednesday and flew on Friday. The relaunch was underway. Soon after passing through security at SFO, I decided to organize my wallet. Horror–no ATM card. I had forgotten to get it back from my daughter. A few coins, no dollars. Tears came to my eyes. As I my daughter and her best friend. I booked a hotel for the first pilot," whomever that was. We experienced all that tourists can, including pasta for breakfast, ancient churches, and wan- dering into the middle of the street without considering that cars may be a factor. (My tolerance shot through the roof for what we deal with driving in Carmel!). The two weeks we spent abroad were some of the best of my life. Being back in the air now, I truly appreciate how the ride has smoothed out. The air is calm. But, I will welcome the turbu- lence when it happens again. And it will. You never know when you may end up making the best detour of your life. Dina Eastwood is a former news anchor at KSBW TV, past host settled into Lufthansa's seat 68C, I explained to the business- of "Candid Camera" and has starred on a reality show on the E! ble, just disheveled and heading to a foreign country with no Monterey Peninsula with her husband, Clint Eastwood, and their men on each side of me that, no, I wasn't emotionally unsta- money. Upon landing in Frankfurt for a layover, I went to the 34 C ARMEL MAGAZINE•SUMMER/FALL 2013 Network. She is a writer, editor, and yogini. She resides on the daughter, Morgan.