I am travelling again. No upgrade to first class but I am enjoying being alone in my row in economy comfort. Amazing the journey I seem to be on…I am hyper aware of my surroundings – of all of the complexity but somehow feel so simplistic. Sounds deep and all ‘psychology like’ but I can’t help but tell you how profound it all is for me.
Megan brought me to DIA and I took advantage of her extra parking space in her Denver apartment building. She had to be back at the office by 7 so I was checked in, through security and at the gate a couple of hours before we were leaving for JFK. There were only a few of us at the gate and I was contemplating whether or not to clean out my purse.
I looked across from me at the younger woman digging through her bags. I mentioned to her that I was glad to see her doing that…and that I was not the only one… while privately thinking that it was my age that causes me to consistently lose my cell phone in my purse. She answered briefly and I can’t remember exactly what she said. A few moments later she commented that I probably wasn’t from NY – she could tell by my lack of accent. I said no…was from Denver… We talked for a few moments longer…- Where did I work? What did I do?
I took a call and read some emails. Still lots of time before leaving – I asked her if she could watch my bags for a few moments…telling her I would be right back. I thought on my way to the ladies room how odd it was that I left my purse, passport and computer in the care of someone I didn’t know…but wasn’t the least bit worried.
I returned, chatted with Natalie via texts and let Dean know that I was at the gate and just waiting. Megan sent me a text – she still couldn’t find her jump drive and asked me to look in my briefcase to see if she had dropped it there. The gal across from me took her turn at the restroom while I watched her bags. She came back and resumed whatever she was doing on her phone.
Talked to my boss and called McKenzie. She had gotten ill at work and had gone home….wanted to chat with her mom…I never take that for granted. The young woman still interacting with her phone – caught my attention. I hadn’t asked her what she did or where she worked – not sure why.
She looked up as I asked the questions. She worked for Davita – its an awesome company. I said I know – that it has a great reputation in Denver and that one of my girls was very interested in getting in for an interview. She was here for a training – it was team building – she works in one of the clinics on Long Island.
Oddly she didn’t offer that Davita provides kidney care and dialysis centers. Even more strange was my need to blurt out to her that I had a son that had a kidney transplant. The shift in the conversation was immediate and I could almost see into the young woman’s compassionate and sincere soul. She asked questions about Patrick – I told her his story. She talked about the techs and what a wonderful company she works for. She took my email and said that she would forward my daughter’s application. I talked about losing my social infrastructure when Patrick died. She seemed to understand. She talked about how she had cried during some of the team building exercises. I confessed to her how Patrick’s experience changed my life.
We got called for boarding and I broke out of the trance. I got up to leave and she stood to offer a hug. I hugged her back and know that she is now part of my journey.
I needed to share this. I shared it with Dean via text after I settled into my seat. I thought about it as I read my devotional and eventually had to put down a book that has captivated my attention to get this written. The captain says we are 2 hours from JFK… I am on my second cup of coffee… back to my book.
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