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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS ~ 15 January 2017
Serving | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 01/14/2017 5:03:13 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska


 


 

 

 

RESERVATIONS


Recently, someone stopped by my office, handed me two sheets of paper, and said something to the effect of, "You're always sharing something with people; here's something for you." Then he was gone. Like so many encounters we have along life's way, this one was brief. But it left a lasting impression...and brightened my whole day. The article is definitely a "keeper". Originally written by Jonathan Lee for the Washington Post, it is entitled "Reservations of an Airline Agent". I've abbreviated it due to limited space, but the point is unchanged. Enjoy!

"I work in the central reservation office of an airline company. After more than 130,000 conversations -- all ending with "Have a nice day and thanks for calling" -- I think it's fair to say I'm a survivor.

"I've made it through all the calls from adults who don't know the difference between a.m. and p.m., from mothers of military recruits who didn't trust their little soldiers to get it right, from the woman who wanted advice on how to handle her teenage daughter, from the man who wanted to ride inside the kennel with his dog so he wouldn't have to pay for a seat, from the woman who wanted to know why she had to change clothes on our flight between Chicago and Washington (she was told she'd have to make a change between the two cities) and from the man who asked if I'd like to discuss the existential humanism that emanates from the soul of Habeeb.

"My battles have included everything from a man not knowing how to spell the name of the town he was from, to another not recognizing "Iowa" as being a state, to another who thought he had to apply for a foreign passport to fly to West Virginia.

"I talked to a woman in Denver who had never heard of Cincinnati, a man in Minneapolis who didn't know there was more than one city in the South ("wherever the South is"), and a man in Dallas who tried to pay for his ticket by sticking quarters in the pay phone he was calling from.

"A woman wanted to fly to Hippopotamus, NY. After assuring her there was no such city, she became irate and said it was a big city with a big airport. I asked if Hippopotamus was near Albany or Syracuse. It wasn't. Then I asked if it was near Buffalo. 'Buffalo!' she said, "I knew it was a big animal".

"Then a man tried to catch our flight to Maconga. I told him I'd never heard of Maconga and we certainly didn't fly to it. But he insisted we did and to prove it he showed me his ticket: Macon, GA. "Half (of the people) will not have thought about when they're returning. A third won't know where they are going; 10 percent won't care where they're going. A few won't care if they get back. "You just have to shake your head in amazement! But it reminds me of a time when Jesus talked with his apostles about a trip he was taking. As I recall, there was a lot of confusion about that trip as well.

"'I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?' (John 14:2b-5)

"With all the patience of an airline ticket agent, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." (John 14:6) "What a glorious trip lies ahead. I hope you've made your reservations!"

Amen, and blessings on your journey.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN



 

 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chapel; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Howdy, Lathy.

Hope nothing came up to make you have to go anywhere today. All that new snow is pretty but it can’t be much fun to drive on.

It sure does brighten the city at night!


21 posted on 01/14/2017 6:52:58 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: PROCON

Howdy, PRO!

Another day of laying low or did you venture out?


22 posted on 01/14/2017 6:57:05 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: SkyDancer

Bummer being stuck for a while due to the crummy weather.
But as many episodes as I’ve seen of “Air Disasters” on Smithsonian Channel, I’m glad you are. :-) Nice to know you’re safe.


23 posted on 01/14/2017 7:01:30 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: ConorMacNessa

Howdy do, Conor. *Hugz*

Glad you haven’t had any icy stuff yet. Maybe you’ll get lucky and cold front will stall where it is, giving y’all nothing but rain.


24 posted on 01/14/2017 7:03:23 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Lathy???? Fumble fingers.

Try that again .... Howdy Kathy. LOL


25 posted on 01/14/2017 7:05:14 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: left that other site
What is left of the snow is now turning into ice...it is very cold and windy now.

Has Penny balked at going out today? Can't blame her if she has but it IS necessary at some point. LOL

26 posted on 01/14/2017 7:07:28 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: The Mayor

Good evening, Mayor, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to The Mayor family.

Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Did you get any dims today? Are they still in panic mode?


27 posted on 01/14/2017 7:16:06 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: radu
Hi radu!

I went up to my Nephew's house today and hung out with him and his family. He has been keeping safe some very nice old rifles that my Son's Grandpa Willed to my Son before he died.

So I checked them out getting ready to bring them over and give them to Son now that he's responsible enough and wanting to take possession of them.

Beautiful, very old rifles and one revolver too.

Other than that just been hanging out and relaxing.

How wuz your day?

28 posted on 01/14/2017 7:19:31 PM PST by PROCON (Onto the Great American Rebirth!)
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To: PROCON

Good evening and you’re welcome, Pro....

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope you are staying warm. By morning we are supposed to be at zero.


29 posted on 01/14/2017 7:21:59 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: radu

No balking today. I slept till ten am so she was as eager as can be to get outside!


30 posted on 01/14/2017 7:22:25 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: radu
Good evening, Radu!

*HUGS*

A Blessed Lord's Day to you!

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

31 posted on 01/14/2017 7:28:48 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN - 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
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To: SkyDancer

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...stay safe out in all the weather issues. Have a good trip home.

Shavua Tov and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.


32 posted on 01/14/2017 8:10:45 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: ConorMacNessa
Looking down my street this evening. Supposed to be zero by morning. Lots of wind this afternoon.


33 posted on 01/14/2017 8:28:21 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Gnight Kath

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hawkwind+imges&&view=detail&mid=B9DE6821861EC906C6A5B9DE6821861EC906C6A5&FORM=VRDGAR


34 posted on 01/14/2017 9:23:15 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ...



Jim Brickman~How Great Thou Art

Daniel O'Donnel~Church In The Wildwood

The Trevecca Madragalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Dallas Christian Sound~My God And I

St. Olaf Choir~Beautiful Savior

Providence~I'm Telling The World About His Love

Vocal Majority~Deep River

Have a blessed Sunday
God bless our troops!


35 posted on 01/14/2017 9:47:24 PM PST by luvie (There is no global anthem, no global citizenship. We pledge allegiance to one country, America.-DJT)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Wooooooooowwww!! 😮
36 posted on 01/14/2017 10:03:52 PM PST by luvie (There is no global anthem, no global citizenship. We pledge allegiance to one country, America.-DJT)
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To: SkyDancer

What’s it like in Denver tonight? My kids are driving through that way on their way to Jackson Hole, WY, where they will make their new home. Just kind of worried about bad weather for them.

Hope you get to where you were going before too long!


37 posted on 01/14/2017 10:06:11 PM PST by luvie (There is no global anthem, no global citizenship. We pledge allegiance to one country, America.-DJT)
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To: PROCON

Kewl! Sounds like you had a fun day. Bet your son is looking forward to getting those neat rifles.

A quiet day here. Just did some housework though I did get out to walk around the yards a little. 70-plus degrees begged for it. :-)

Sorry this took so long to get posted. Hubby’s cousin who lives next door showed up as I was typing and since Hubby’s asleep, I got the pleasure of his company. Her just left/ Been a loooooong time listening to his gripes. *sigh*


38 posted on 01/14/2017 10:28:23 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: left that other site

LOL! I guess she WAS ready to go by the time you woke up.


39 posted on 01/14/2017 10:38:40 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: LUV W
A very pleasant good Sunday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How's it going?

40 posted on 01/14/2017 11:56:11 PM PST by E.G.C.
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