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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS ~ 25 September 2011
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 09/24/2011 5:02:57 PM PDT 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.
"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
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chaplain; military; troopsupport
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To: yorkie
Thank you, yorkie...((HUGS))
"May her Journey be a peaceful one..."
That is my wish as well.
141
posted on
09/25/2011 6:34:05 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
142
posted on
09/25/2011 6:34:49 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
To: All
143
posted on
09/25/2011 6:35:11 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Cindy
Thank you, Cindy - I keep thinking of Eric Clapton’s song, which he wrote after his son’s death (several years after my own son’s death, many years ago.)
Tomorrow is the anniversary of that loss - and the pain will always be there - even tho I know he is now ‘whole’ and with Our Lord:
TEARS IN HEAVEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AscPOozwYA8
I miss you, Ricky.........
144
posted on
09/25/2011 6:39:33 PM PDT
by
yorkie
(Looks like it's CAIN vs. UNable!)
To: Kozak; The Louiswu; azsportsterman; MozartLover
145
posted on
09/25/2011 6:52:30 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Ingtar; ritewingwarrior
146
posted on
09/25/2011 6:57:39 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: BIGLOOK; The Mayor; tongue-tied; b4its2late
147
posted on
09/25/2011 7:11:39 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: yorkie
A beautiful song...and so fitting for this sad anniversary. God rest the soul of your beloved son! (((hugs)))
148
posted on
09/25/2011 7:54:14 PM PDT
by
luvie
(The current candidates?...none of them are pushing MY buttons! RUN SARAH....R U N!!!!)
To: SevenofNine; fredhead
149
posted on
09/25/2011 8:05:21 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: onyx
150
posted on
09/25/2011 8:09:38 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: SoldierDad; drew; ninergold3
151
posted on
09/25/2011 8:12:54 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Mrs.Nooseman; Grunthor; bannie; NavyCanDo; normy
152
posted on
09/25/2011 8:25:36 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: sxytxredhead73; txradioguy
153
posted on
09/25/2011 8:28:34 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: eyedigress; SouthernHawk; sinclair
154
posted on
09/25/2011 8:33:43 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: MarineBrat; NRA1995; skimask
155
posted on
09/25/2011 8:42:51 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: left that other site
Prayers continue for your Mom, and you.
Thankfully the nurse’s aide was there.
156
posted on
09/25/2011 8:51:03 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: AZamericonnie; Kathy in Alaska
Food comas I understand!
I think the combination of an awesome lunch and moving furniture later in the afternoon did me in Saturday evening.
Thank you, Connie!
157
posted on
09/25/2011 9:03:32 PM PDT
by
HiJinx
("Good government is the concern of all men." ~ Louis L'Amour)
To: left that other site
Oh, ML, I am so sorry to hear this.
Extra extended prayers for Ginny tonight!
158
posted on
09/25/2011 9:04:06 PM PDT
by
oldteen
To: left that other site
Prayers going up for your dear Mom.
159
posted on
09/25/2011 9:08:20 PM PDT
by
MEG33
(God Bless Our Military Men And Women)
To: yorkie
Thinking of you, dear yorkie.
Love and (((HUGS)))
160
posted on
09/25/2011 9:11:18 PM PDT
by
MEG33
(God Bless Our Military Men And Women)
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