A Lost Day & Conversation

I've been praying this last week, in confidence, for a good spiritual conversation en route. Some of my best spiritual conversations have been on planes.

First two flights, people were buried in their devices. I checked: they weren't reading my blog. This flight everyone's sleeping and the big Maori bloke in my row is two empty seats away. I suppose I could sidle over next to him and wait for him to wake up and greet him a cheery "Gooday mate!" But did I mention that he's big? A few too many hangis (pig roasts cooked in the ground) under his belt. At least he's got a good cultural excuse for his puku (belly). All I can point to is cherry pie and eight years of delicious Thanksgiving turkey bird with Doreen's family in Illinois. And Good and Plenty candy. And long-lasting sympathetic pregnancy symptoms from our four kids, the youngest of whom is seventeen.

I have a long list of goodies to reacquaint myself with on this trip: pineapple lumps, minties, Lemon and Paeroa, feijoas, to name just a few. The last one is a fruit. It's not gluttony if you include a fruit.

Anyway, maybe my prayer to share will be answered later. God seems to enjoy mixing things up.

This trip is already like stepping into Narnia. I left Wednesday, I arrive Friday. Thursday simply gets expunged from the calendar. On my way back, I arrive before I leave!

One thing that remains the same is that Air New Zealand is still my favorite airline.

The Koru

A little more on the selfie. I'd heard about the selfie stick being the latest craze but hadn't seen one until today at the Madison airport. A couple were trying to manipulate it telescopically. Seems it gives you that wider angle and a little more distance. Reminded me of those aluminum sticks used at Disneyland for spearing trash. Guess if you don't like the person in the selfie you can always stab them.

I'm in San Fransisco waiting for my third and final flight. It's been a while since I've flown my favorite airline. We'll see if it's still up to snuff.

The design on the tail is known as the Koru, the Maori word for the uncoiling silver fern frond which, like the kiwi, is a national icon.

Koru also happens to be the name of our cat, whose claws unintentionally resemble a koru from time to time. The other cat is named Tui, the Maori name for the Bell Bird whose coloring (black with a white throat) she resembles. In the silence of the long, birdless Wisconsin winter I have oft longed for the paradisical song of the Tui to lift my spirits.

I Hate the Selfie but Love the Wifee

What a class act this woman is. First, she says yes to marrying me 32 years ago. Then she follows me to NZ for close to 20 years. Then she graciously lets me return on my own for three weeks. No complaining. Just a great smile and a kiss.