April 13, 2017
I was very much looking forward to visiting my younger daughter and her family in Portland, ME last weekend. On the departure day, April 6, I drove the 1 1/4 hour trip to BWI in a blinding storm. White knuckle the whole trip. Thunder, lightning, sheets of rain. I thought perhaps I should turn around and cancel this trip. I did not. This was a huge storm system that blanketed the upper east coast, resulting in chaos at the airport. Flights delayed or cancelled affecting the whole of the country. After several hours of delays, my flight was also cancelled, because a transformer “blew” in Portland leaving the airport without power. I was close enough to drive back home. Others were not so fortunate. I was struck in all this by what I felt. Thousands of people were affected. The predominant energy was one of FEAR – Will I lose my place in line? Will I be able to get a flight out? How will I manage my three little boys? How will I get my debilitated father to some sort of lodging? Every single person in that terminal was STRESSED. The airline employees were doing the best they could but they were also stressed. Within all of this I saw that not one person had control of what was happing. Nature was in control. The skies raged and wept until they were finished. My older daughter said it was like RELEASE. The smile came with the sunshine a day later. We live with the illusion of control, but the only thing we really have control over is how WE choose to react to events that come our way. But this also connected me, in compassion, to all people in this world who are displaced by events of nature, war, famine, and man’s inhumanity to man. I felt, in that airline terminal, the fear, chaos and uncertainty of plans and lives turned on end. In that situation, within a week, all would be back to “normal”. But not so for those caught in the events named above. The question is: What can I do? What can we do? I cannot influence nations, or the complexities of an overpopulated planet facing the reality of diminishing resources. But I believe we are all connected by an invisible web and I can be in this web of humanity with love and compassion for those making difficult journeys.
That experience was so frightening I don’t know how I would have reacted. Thank God everything turned out all right for you and yours. By the way, I’ve received your book and am truly enjoying it. Mostly, I do my reading at night since there is something going on with our health issues since Bert was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He did not have to have surgery, but the chemo and radiation treatments were brutal on him. He is in remission, but in depression. I can truly understand what you’ve been through as it seems we are encountering so many similar problems since this happened. But back to your book, it’s so down-to-earth about two good people who fell in love, married and shared so many years together through thick and thin. I left off on Chapter 6 and hope to read a few more tonight. I always read at this time since things quiet down and the demands are lessened. It’s also a second marriage for both of us so I can almost identify myself with you in so many ways. I love the cover and your writing is quite descriptive; your words sing or cry and I feel what you were feeling…I’m so glad you got in touch with me. Sincerely, Olga
Olga,
So good to hear from you. I think there are many of us who walk this road and I wish you courage in your journey.