The Long Flight to Turkey
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
May, 7, 2009
What is planned on a trip is interesting. What happens on the journey is what makes it memorable. For my first days I have been fortunate to connect with the people of Turkey in small, but personal ways, ways that continue to make me smile and warm my heart.The world is filled with connections. We just need to extend the olive branch and reap new friendships.
As we met our group at the airport after very long flights from the West Coast of the United States., we were boarding yet another plane to travel to our first destination, Gaziantep. The man next to me on the plane spoke no English, I spoke no Turkish but we tried to communicate in our own awkward way. I then read my book and he tried to sleep. All around me tired people, including my husband, Dick, were trying to grab a little sleep to make it through the crowded ride to our final destination of our first day. Everyone that is, except for the small, unhappy child with the very caring parents sitting right behind me
As those who know me well, I wear a harmony ball representing earth around my neck. It brings me a sense of peace and harmony in my life . When I am feeling happy or stressed or chaotic, I bring it close to my ear to listen to the chimes and I feel calmed and centered. Each young adult who has become part of Generation Connex Movement has been given a harmony ball with the vision that one day youth will ring their chimes in harmony in every country of the world at the same, precise moment. The chimes heard around the world for peace, harmony and good wishes for all.
I listened to the crying child, the struggling parents and the rustling of the tired people near me. I took my harmony ball off and began to distract the baby behind me with the sound of the chimes. As my hand tired from holding it behind my head, I handed it to the parents to continue to use it. The baby quieted, the people slept and I read through the flight. As we were nearing the time of arrival, I began to wonder if I was going to be able to retrieve my necklace. And just as I had that thought, I heard the baby cry followed by the sound of the chimes and I knew I was not going to take the harmony ball home with me. It would be a gift, a gift to Amani, the baby I will forever be connected to. The last image etched in my memory is of the parents placing the necklace around the neck of their beautiful child and the warmth of their smiles.