Published: May 18, 2008 12:53 am            

CUMMINS: Chasing wild geese can be beneficial

Just when our lives begin running smoothly, God tests us again by having us chase wild geese. Last weekend, I had planned a restful gather-yourself-together type weekend, but God had another plan for one of his many wayward sons.

Trying to do at least one good deed each month, I volunteered to help a dear friend and pick up her grandson at the airport. What happened was I not only got caught up in late Friday afternoon traffic, when most Americans hit the road, I also became involved in a lost person search when a scheduled flight didn’t follow the schedule.

My friend said to look for a tall, young college guy named Allen, who would be standing on the curb at 4:16. The only people waiting out there either were old, short and/or overweight. I tried, “You Allen?” on several older guys, but got mostly stares. Picking up someone you don’t know, or do know, at an airport is often like having a wild goose let you pick it up.

You can’t park in front of terminals because of terrorism. Do I look like a jihad person who would place a heavy suitcase on the curb and then speed away as the airport blew up? I don’t carry explosives in my shoes or nitroglycerin in my water bottle, and certainly have no intention of severing a pilot’s jugular with a nail clipper.

The only thing you can do when the person you’re picking up might still be in Atlanta is circle the airport. Planes frequently circle the sky waiting to land. This is caused by chain reactions, like when a tornado in Kansas delays takeoffs in Boston. Circling is a major reason gas is soaring.

How many times should you circle before employing other strategies? Maybe I misunderstood, was it a short granddaughter named Alice? OK, park, go in and diligently search for someone in the college-age range or call my friend.

Now this is where a cell phone would come in handy, but not me. I’m not about to further complicate my life with technological frills. I circled again and mistakenly pulled into the $9 per-day outlying parking lot. I circled again to the short-term lot, hurried inside to a pay phone and called my friend, who apologetically informed me Allen had just left Atlanta.

Hey, no big deal, what are friends for, you can’t control acts of God or lost luggage. She warned me, “Don’t you write about this.” Thanks, you just gave me a great idea.

Early Saturday morning, walking the dog. Weekend still has potential. Saw a little black box lying on the ground. Picked it up and opened the lid. The little screen lit up, the name Tammy popped up. Failed picking up Allen, but Tammy will get her cell phone back. Didn’t realize it would be another wild goose thing.

Since I’m cell phone challenged, a neighbor pushed some buttons showing me how to quick dial one of Tammy’s many friends, who were stored inside. Clicked Ginger’s number and explained who, what, where, why and gave her my name and phone number. Said she’d call Tammy and said I was “so sweet.” Then Ginger called back, couldn’t locate Tammy, so we talked about how best to return the phone and other life issues. “Where do you live, Ginger?”

Since it was only a few blocks away, and I had to go out, I’d drop it off at her house. Tammy’s cell phone then began playing a little ditty. Do I dare? “No, this is not Tammy, this is Terry.” It was Bridget and we talked. After explaining how I’d become entwined with Tammy, she said, “You’re so sweet.” Do I sound like a young, tall college guy? Said she’d try locating Tammy, who could be in Atlanta.

And then Tammy called after Ginger located her and we talked on her cell phone as it related to her life. Told her I’d promised Ginger I’d drop it off there. Said she was lost without it. “Where are you, Tammy?” Agreed to take it to her place of work. “Oh, since you have my phone and Ginger’s number, do you mind calling and telling her?” Called Ginger and we talked at length, which is what a cell phone is for.

Saturday afternoon. Weekend practically shot. However, being conscious that God works in mysterious ways, I now have three new friends but not their phone numbers.

Terry Cummins is looking forward to the weekend. Don’t call but make contact at TLCTLC@AOL.com.

        

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