I have not been blogging for some time. My virtual study has been dim. It is time to return, and to bring the warmth back. The inspiration this time is the recent inauguration of Barack Obama.
I attended the inaugural, and posted frequently on Facebook during my stay. Folks seemed to like my status updates, and have been asking for more stories. Now it is three weeks since the inaugural, and I am just now getting something out there. So I return to the study.
I traveled to Washington with my wife, our sons (ages 3 and 9), and an exchange student from Costa Rica. We stayed in a lovely inn in which my mother-in-law had reserved rooms over a year ago. Wait, I have to tell you about my journey home before I tell you anything else.
We had to catch the train to Baltimore at 2:00 to insure that we made our flight home. We were leaving the Mall as President Obama was finishing his address. I had followed the rules, and not brought a stroller so I am hauling up 18th holding my 3 year old who keeps encouraging me by saying things like: "I'm soo cold!", "I want to go home!" , "No we can't." My wife flagged down a pedi-cab (you know, a guy on a trike with a covered seat). We hopped in and dude is struggling, but making it. We get to the hotel, grab our luggage, gather our exchange student (Did I mention that she has had a terrible cold for the two weeks she has been in the States?), and decide to catch a cab as we are hearing reports that the Metro stations are jammed.
We made great time, and were at the airport three hours early! We go to check in and find that when making the reservations my wife had purchased two tickets in her own name intending one to be for our traveling companion. The agents are clear that we can't change the name at the airport. We must buy a new ticket! Fine, we can do that. We are then informed that there are no available seats on the same flight. What? Can't we have the one we intend to give up? Apparently not. We bought a ticket on a flight leaving two hours before ours, gathered our crew, and headed for security.
At security, our student has been tagged for review. Of course she has as she is a non-citizen who bought a ticket at the last minute. The TSA agent asked her to stay in place. Apparently she didn't understand, and joined us at the conveyor belt (5 steps away from where she was told to stand). The agent at the conveyor belt freaks, and tells our friend to get back. We explain that she doesn't speak much English. "Well, she needs to do what she is told to do!" We got things worked out and were on our way.
We got our friend off on her flight, and settled in to wait for ours. It was a good wait. We wound up sharing stories about the inauguration with others. On boarding the plane, it turns out that the seat next to me is empty. Well, it was until the nice man behind me moved up so the lady next to him could put her poster collection in his seat. (I am working on many letters to Delta, Travelocity, the president, William Shatner, and most local news stations.)
The flight was fine. Our three year old went to sleep before we left the ground, and we got to see the parade on the in-flight television. Upon landing, my wife and 9 year old son set off to retrieve our exchange student. My 3 year old and I gathered his stroller, followed after. We meet up at baggage claim, and all is well. We have a short trip to the parking lot, and we head for the highway. It is cold, we are tired, and we are almost home.
My wife asks what I want for dinner. It is my birthday after all. She calls my favorite burger place, and orders a feast. After ten minutes or so I notice that something is wrong. We are headed in the wrong direction! I had gone south rather than north! How did we not notice that?
We turn it around, and head north. My nine year old is now expressing discomfort. "I don't feel good.", "I am so hungry.", "I have a headache." My wife wisely asks, "Do you feel like you are going to throw up?" "No, I'm fine." We carry on.
With the car smelling of fries we make that final span of asphalt to the house. Perhaps 200 yards from our house, my complaining son indicates that he is indeed about to throw up. I stop the car, he jumps out, and manages to send most of the vomit out of the car. The rest was all over him, and enough did stay in the car. He declared that he was not getting back into the car. He would walk home. So he and my wife did just that. They met us shortly, and we put the patient to bed.
That was just the ride home. There were other twists on our agenda that weekend, but I generally have one impression of the experience. It was inspirational. With all the crazy things that happened, I would do it again tomorrow. I was proud to be an American, the spirit of the day moved me, and the crowds exuded a positive energy.
So what do I do now? How can I keep this inspiration alive?
That is what I hope to consider as I revive this blog. As it is a pastor's study, I plan to consider all the resources that faith can bring to the work of making a difference in the world.
Just from the ride home I can definitely say that no amount of mishap dampened my joy. May we all have that kind of spirit as we live every day.
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