Time is Short

Today I traveled to Brooklyn, New York with my daughter E to visit Pratt University. The flight up was an exercise in patience. We thought we allowed plenty of time to check in bags and go through security. However, once we entered the airport my heart sank when I saw the lines. Who would have thought that the entire city of Houston were boarding planes to start their summer vacations. When we checked our bags we were told that our bags probably would not make our flight.

We arrived at the boarding gate just as the doors closed. We were not alone in this situation either. Travelers were getting upset…flight personnel were trying their best to find alternate flights….the plane was still at the gate but once the door closes it cannot be reopened. You could see the frustration radiating from everyone. I don’t know what happened but just as we were making the decision to get on separate flights the doors were opened and we were able to board. Relief was felt by everyone. Getting our bags late seemed like a small thing when you consider the headache of flying standby to New York.

We checked into the Condor Hotel which is located a couple do blocks from the school. The hotel is very nice. The beds were kind of small….a little bigger than a twin and smaller than a full. I also noticed that on the doorpost do all the rooms is a mesuzah. Then I noticed as we walked in the neighborhood that the hotel is in the heart of the Orthodox Hasidic Jewish community. I felt strange walking around…different…like I did not belong.

We ate lunch at White Castle. My first White Castle burger…interesting indeed. The establishment only had 2 tables outside. The unsettling part was placing and receiving your order through holes made in plexiglass. I did not like all the graffiti on the buildings. It seems like a rough place…not the place I want to leave my sweet, baby girl. I know she is an adult….24…and I’m lucky she allows me to make this trip with her, but I still want to keep her close and protected….being a mom is hard.

We finally found the campus, the area improved. The campus looked like it was well secured. Tomorrow we will find out more when we tour the campus. My fears subsided some…

I realized that time is short for me to enjoy the days remaining that E lives with me….that I need take time, to enjoy each moment fully and to listen so E knows and feels my love.

Everyday take time. Everyday take time to feel the sun and the wind and the rain and feel that you are loved — and then let your life overflow with that love so that a thousand others feel that love. Ever day take time to live loved — and live so others feel loved. Every day take time. Time is there for the taking. For the unwrapping ….Give someone the gift of listening… linger and look into their eyes and really listen and this is free and nobody can buy it and what is better than paying attention to someone with all of you fully present?Ann Voskamp