Angels as Strangers

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

I start out with much apprehension.
My thinking’s reflecting my tension.
And what I have found,
As we move around,
It’s Help. It’s the “screw-up prevention.”

Have you met an angel posing as a stranger?

We are out-and-about traveling!
First full-ledged trip since pre-Covid years.
This involves many segments of
Getting around.

Airport, Light Rail, short sections of walking.
Wheelchair for Bob in some spots,
Elevators rather than stairs.
Tickets purchased by punching buttons,
Expecting pre-requested assistance for connections.

Mostly, it happened.

When what we expected didn’t,
Some kindly alternative showed up.

One example—Seattle airport—
Wheelchair attendant took Bob
To farthest edge of her allowed territory,
And had to leave us.
There, Bob and I sat on bench to wait
For usual electric-cart arrivals.

Never did happen.

Young man flopped down on nearby bench
Exhausted at end of his workday for car rental co.
I asked him,
What-was-usual for electric cart arrival.
He knew nothing.

I paced, peered, fretted,
Increasingly worried about our next requirement,
Getting to Light Rail.

Young man, an immigrant from Nepal,
Got up and said with sincerity, in broken English—
“I will take care of you.”
He sprinted off in direction of airport building,
Returned with a wheelchair he had
“Snagged.”

With Bob and one suitcase loaded,
He speed-walked wheelchair through long corridor,
To Light Rail boarding area.
I arrived moments later, panting from the sprint.

Our Nepal-transplant “angel” would accept no money
In gratitude for his help.

In his culture, one helps “Elders.”
He certainly filled that cultural role for us.

We got that kind of help,
In some less dramatic situations.
All with results that let us get
To where we needed to be.

Now,
Time with loved ones,
Interesting viewing,
Zest of spring foliage,
Different geography,
Fills my eyes and heart.

I am having trouble finding things.
Carefully placed as I packed suitcase,
Important items have gone into-hiding.
Either they will surface,
Or I’ll figure out what to substitute.

In a couple of weeks,
I’ll laugh and think how to
“Refine” packing-system.

Hmmm, maybe I should start thinking now!

Hugs,
Lin

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