what to do with 60 hours

The journey took a total of 60 hours. Buffalo. New York. Tokyo. Bangkok. MS.

I was tempted to use the time to reflect. Material was not in short supply. There was the fresh pain of saying goodbyes and the rich times spent with family and friends in the last several weeks that made leaving even more poignant. Or there was the prospect of impending cross-cultural inundation with all its myriad challenges and adventures. In fact, this brain food is still very much on the menu if I should feel so inclined. The marathon ended a mere 16 hours ago, after all.

But honestly, I didn't have it in me to contemplate any of these things in my sixty hour transit. I was spent. I simply lived one moment at a time and began to count the blessings that met me. There were many.

Mom and Dad, Dustin and Emily, Dan and Barb, Cliff and Deb, and of course Leo and Yuki, were all at the airport the morning of the 15th to see me off. This was especially miraculous as Dustin and Emily were both given the day off without even having to request it. They gave me a freshly picked sunflower on the way out the door, which is currently being pressed in my travel document folder.

I have never had as much leg room on a plane as I did on the 13 hour trans-Pacific flight. And there was an empty seat next to me, making it convenient to remain quiet, which at that time I definitely preferred.

I had the delight of spending my Tokyo layover time with Kaori and her gracious family. Not only that, but I was able to have a shower and a hot bath and a good sleep before continuing on the next leg of my trip.

Two very cute, very active Japanese preschool brothers sat by me for part of the flight to Bangkok. We built toy airplanes together.

The taxi driver helped me find a hired luggage cart lady. The cart lady helped me find the right counter lady to buy my bus ticket from. The counter lady wisely named me "Nicole" on my bus ticket since that could be pronounced by the bus driver if the need should arise. Though it didn't.

After I had been struggling a few minutes to make a domestic phone call on an international phone, a kind Thai gentleman came up to me and asked in English if I needed assistance. He paid for the call and dialed the number for me.

It was far from practical to navigate the bus station with 140 odd pounds of luggage. A Scandinavian woman came and sat next to me, smiling in a friendly manner. She willingly watched my bags while I took a much needed field trip to the bathroom.

I couldn't manage my luggage alone when my bus arrived. Another Thai gentleman asked me in English if he could help. He valiantly lifted all my suitcases into the bus for me.

At the end of my final all-night 8 hour bus ride, KS, my current hostess, was at the station to pick me up and take me to her home. And welcome me. And make me a yummy omelet with toast.

All my take-offs, landings, train rides, bus rides, and the connections between went smoothly. My luggage and body both arrived in tact, albeit a bit worn out.

I was very aware of all these wonderful gifts, and of the dear people I knew who were praying for such things as I went along. So while I didn't have the strength to be reflective about the past or the future, I was capable of being thankful to God for the present. So that's what I was. And am.