Travel Snippets

All along the way as we traveled to our destination in Africa, I experienced brief interactions that I treasure. 

• Riding the Skylink in Dallas, two women with two children in tow, suddenly realized just as the doors were about to close, that they were where they had intended to disembark.  The women dashed out but the children froze in place as they saw the doors closing.  A young man sitting next to the door, calmly reached over and forced the door to stay open while the children raced through to join their mothers.
• Many amazingly resilient children were among the travelers.  Over the thousands of miles we flew and the several airports we passed through, I saw weary parents but rarely saw any child expressing any distress or discontent.   One little girl who appeared to be about four, really captured my attention. Her head was covered with beautiful coils of braids. 

 Wearing a black and white striped ruffled dress that sported a sunny yellow bow on the bodice, she bounced around displaying a bright, happy confidence and bubbly spirit. 

• On one flight, there was a medical emergency among the first class passengers.  The steward called for a doctor, nurse or EMT who might provide assistance.  After landing, we were told to wait while the patient was evacuated to the hospital.  Passengers spontaneously clapped when the pilot thanked the person who had responded to the call for help.
• We made some new friends from Kansas who were also traveling to Lusaka.  The time passed very quickly during a long layover in Doha as we got acquainted.  We learned about the family business they had sold last year, one that was established by the husband’s grandfather and great uncle in 1935.  First developed to produce a feed for cattle, it had evolved into a pet food business that had spawned other related businesses which provide many jobs in their tiny Kansas town.  We discovered we both are celebrating wedding anniversaries this weekend.

I slept well last night and awoke to our seven-year-old grandson standing by the bed, waiting for me to wake up!  What a way to greet a new day!

May we be bearers of hope, the “wait staff” of Hope’s Café for each other and all those we encounter.  Shalom, Kate

Hope’s Café Bonus:  On our final flight to Lusaka, I was engrossed in a movie, when I noticed in the cubicle next to me, where Terry had been sleeping, two women stewards were on their knees, bent over some task. Terry was not in evidence.  Having just been through the last flight where someone had had to be evacuated for emergency medical care, I immediately interpreted that Terry was on the floor in some medical distress. My heart began to pound, my throat got tight, tears were forming in my eyes when I saw Terry standing up across the aisle from his seat.   In fact, the two women were  working to remove Terry’s seat belt that had become stuck.   Grateful for this ‘reprieve’ I was reminded how life can change in an instant, thus calling me to live in awareness of each moment and to express my gratitude.