As we exited the plane at London’s Heathrow Airport, the fatigue of a long and crowded flight was taking its toll. A promised wheelchair was waiting but took me only to the first exit where we were told to wait for the special assistance vehicle that was coming. One other person who I discovered later was also challenged by Parkinson’s was waiting patiently also. We had an hour and a half to transfer from the international flight to the one to Dublin, Ireland. The battery-operated vehicle pulled close as we positioned ourselves for what we thought would be an assisted journey to the arrivals area where we were to make our national declaration and move on to the domestic terminal. That journey was short lived as the driver pulled up close to an escalator walkway heading in the direction marked for international arrivals. We were guided to a place that was being hosted by someone who seemed not to know anything about arrivals or departures or the need for wheelchairs for so many gathered there. Frustratingly, we joined a group of other somewhat disabled travelers as we made our way to the domestic terminal. Seeing the sign for our flight to Dublin in the distance, we were approached by a kind lady who offered help with the wheelchair she commanded to whisk us on our way. Finally, at the gate and routed quickly to the pre-boarding status, we took a seat next to the boarding walkway. Full of gratitude for the assistance, we tipped and bid farewell to the lady who helped. I sat down in a sigh of relief as I put my cell phone beside me after checking the time. We were motioned to enter the boarding hallway and I found my cane to come in handy along the way. Just before boarding at the plane’s door I felt for my cell phone and in horror remembered laying it beside me on the bench back at the boarding hall entrance. I approached the luggage handler standing next to the aircraft door and explained to him where I recalled leaving my cell phone. He declared that he would check for it as we boarded the plane. Upon boarding, I notified two of the four flight attendants that I had left my phone at the boarding gate entrance and was told they would be checking for it. My heart was racing. So much was contained in that little instrument. I closed my eyes and began to pray that God would guide the rescue of this seemingly meaning less piece of technology. The plane was filling with passengers and the attendants were otherwise pre-occupied. I was preparing my thinking and my heart for the process of acquiring new technology when I returned to NC. The announcement of the door closing echoed, and I looked to the front of the plane as I saw an attendant walking directly toward our section. With a warm smile, he handed me my cellphone! With eyes tearing up, I shouted my thanks to him for what he had just done. I was reminded that even in the midst of frustrations and distractions, there are opportunities for giving thanks for the answering of prayers. Sometimes the smallest of actions by us or others can translate into a bundle of blessings!
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