My sisters-in-law came to visit recently and my husband Neil and I had a lovely time showing them around Cape May County. One of the sisters was rehabbing from hip surgery and using a cane so we did things in a more subdued mode than usual and it was truly a relief to intentionally slowdown from our busy summer pace. We enjoyed the tourist spots but we also appreciated those around us in the more leisurely rhythm of our fall season.
We took a trolley tour of Cape May and met some Canadians who were on vacation. The driver and tour guide were great and we were treated to a beautiful day and a lovely tour that explained the history of the City of Cape May. The tour was fresh and well-given despite the fact that the guide most likely had done the tour hundreds of times this summer. We travelled back to Ocean City via Ocean Drive to better show off each island community.
They enjoyed the Ocean City Boardwalk on the weekend and I was surprised by the goodly number of visitors here in our shoulder season. The boardwalk and beach were plenty busy and the sisters could not imagine the even more densely crowded summer scenes I described.
When it was time to send the ladies home to Seattle we wanted to stay close until we were assured they were on the airplane. We were permitted to go to the gate – possibly because of Mary needing to have wheelchair assistance.
The assigned gate was extremely crowded and, unfortunately, the sun was high and beaming directly into the full wall of windows. I opted to let Neil chat with his sisters for the last bit of time and I went into the hallway of the terminal to sit on a marble bench jutting out from the wall.
I cannot explain what great pleasure I received in observing and somehow interacting just the slightest bit with the travelers coming and going up and down that corridor. Normally I am quite invisible – as people approach me they usually are so involved in their friends or phones that they might just run me over in their quest to reach their destination. This was not the case at the airport and it was so unusual that I want to share what I experienced with you.
I sat absolutely still and had nothing in my hands, I was just observing the crowd by looking at each person’s face. I tried to keep a friendly look, maybe slightly like the fading Cheshire Cat who too might become invisible. What a joy-filled experience I encountered.
As I sat there I was pleased to note no less than four mature couples sweetly holding hands as they walked. Of course there were travelers (many on their phones) heading to and from flights but there also were airport workers, flight staff, transport people, and cleaning crew. Almost to a soul everyone that saw me looking at them looked me back in the eye smiled and nodded, or said hello and smiled. I honestly would not have thought this was true unless I had experienced it myself. I was overwhelmed by the sincere smiles and grins of those that were busily moving from one location in our country to another.
A younger couple stopped at the massage chairs across the corridor from my post. Many people had lingered there to use their phones, or just to rest, but these two had child-like hearts and they flung back in the chairs, paid the price, and laughed through the vibrations of every part of their bodies. They looked over at me smiling while watching them and they too engaged me – their antics made my day.
I had pilots, transport people, even a sweet elderly lady wearing a Sari being pushed in a wheelchair grinned and waved, business men and women – people of all ages looked over, acknowledged me, and then smiled filling my heart with happiness.
This all occurred as I was preparing in two days to give the eulogy at my friend Janet’s memorial service. One of the things I admired most about Janet was her ability to connect with total strangers. I want to follow in her footsteps to be able to easily share my love for Jesus’ with others – one person at a time. What a wonderful response I received on my first attempt.
No, I didn’t say the name Jesus – although I complemented a woman on her “Faith over Fear” tee shirt and also a cashier studying her Bible. I just shared the love Jesus has put in my heart, with a smile, to a few souls moving through life. Oh, what joy I received as a reward.
ED. NOTE: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.
