When Miles Feel Meaningless
Any parent worth even half their salt only wants the best for their kids. You don't want them to hurt, or be scared, or in pain, or danger, or distress, etc. Being a parent means that you would take any and all of those unpleasant and treacherous scenarios on for yourself ten-fold before having your little one suffer. Of course, life is at times as hard as it is wonderful, and sometimes you can't take the pain away, even if you hurt equally right alongside them.
We experienced this almost indescribable fear, hurt, and panic very shortly after becoming parents when Little C was life flighted away from us at 3 days old. We went from being pregnant and blissfully unaware of what being parents fully meant to just a few days later tailing the helicopter that carried our three-day-old baby as best we could from the ground not knowing what news would await us at the Children's Hospital 90 miles away.
We all thankfully got beyond that chapter, but that helpless feeling you get when you don't know if your child will be okay stays in your bones. It stays in your soul. It is awful. I don't even want to fathom what it is like when it turns out your child really isn't okay. My brain just can't go there.
Recently we have felt that feeling again, this time about Baby S. We have again found ourselves in the place where all the things that we thought mattered just days before really don't. I'm not shopping for spring clothes on my phone while nursing, or trying to develop a workout routine to say goodbye to the last of the "baby fluff", strategizing how to earn a few more miles doing this or that, or daydreaming about booked or potential trips. Instead, I'm googling specialists, tests, diseases, diagnoses, reading research studies, pressing for faster appointments, and just trying to keep my s^#@ together enough to be the best parent I can be for both of our daughters since life doesn't stop when you have multiple kids.
And oh lordy don't get me started on how dark of a road Dr. Google can take you on when you have more questions than answers!
It is funny how something I care about so much, like miles and points, so quickly is totally meaningless in some ways, but yet remains so important in others. Even when I could care less about this promotion or that offer because of more pressing needs at hand, I am so thankful I have miles and points "in the bank" because they would enable us to go to wherever we needed for medical advice, or bring whatever family member we may need here for extra support without really hitting our bottom line.
We are all really hoping that what we helping Baby S with right now turns out just as our experience with Little C did...scary, horrible in the moment, but ultimately okay. My head and heart may not be fully turned to miles and points at times right now, but I'm still glad that I have them at the ready just in case. While we navigate the process of getting answers for Baby S we will keep business as usual here and in the "real world" as much as possible and hope that in the near future this turbulence is again behind us making way for smoother skies.
TPG featured card
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees