OK! Alitalia!

 (Just to let you know - you are coming in in the middle of a story and to understand what follows, you really need to first read the previous two blogs.)

So, there we were, up high in the sky, flying along smoothly on ur way from New York to Milan.

Only our destination was supposed to be Rome.

But way up high in that sky there was not much anyone could do about the situation. Sit back; relax; enjoy a beverage; get ready to have some dinner.

At a certain point when things seemed to be settling in the cabin, I decided this might be a good time to draw attention to the fact that the airline had on board a number of passangers crossing the Atlantic and headed to the wrong destination.

I got the attention of one of the flight attendants and I set before her our plight.

She assured that she would get to work on this situation immediately and so she did.

Within minutes she was back to inform me that the airline was well aware of our situation and that, even as we sailed all those miles up there in the air, Alitalia was at work to provide us with proper connections.

When we would land in Milan, we would pass through international customs and then be escorted to a flight which would take us directly to Rome.

Not only that. Our travel agency was also now on top of the situation. They knew what was being arranged. Out guide was being notified and when we did finally land in Rome, the guide would be ready and waiting to get us  going on the trip that had been planned.

We would be fine.

All was good.

Sit back and relax.

Alitalia was in control of things.

And so we continued up high in the sky with breakfast served and customs forms passed out and filled out and everything in the ready. Finally, we landed in Milan and were efficiently escorted through customs and passport check. We sat as a group together in the waiting area and only a short time later our names were being called to board our flight to Rome.

At last!

One by one we took our seats on the plane that would take us the final leg of that incredible journey.

One by one . . .  until . . .

All seats were filled and preparations were being made for our departure but something was just not right. Some familiar faces, faces of members of our group were missing!

Stop! I proclaimed.

We are missing some of our group.

A very courteous flight attendant informed me that all seats were filled and those left behind would be placed a different flight, a flight, I was also informed, that would be going to a "slightly different" airport in Rome.

But they could not go to a different airport! We were a group and many had never traveled to Rome before and we would be split and they would be lost. Unsatisfactory solution!

I would not seat down and get strapped in.

We needed a better solution.

I was escorted off the plane by an airline official who took me into another one of those impressive managerial  offices so a call could be made to somewhere higher up to see what could be done about this situation.

Call made and still another flight slightly delayed because of our group. I was asked to sit with those who had been left behind, seven to be exact. We were assured that everything would be just fine.

Moments later the parade began.

Passengers were being escorted off the flight that should have been on its way to Rome.

One, two, three . . . all in all seven removed.

And then the attendant came to us to lead us onto that flight with the seventh had been left behind now have seats. Seven others unfortunately were soon to be on their way on a different flight to a "slightly different" airport in Rome.

And we, at last, as a group all together were on our way to Rome.

Short flight and sure enough upon arrival there was our tour guide all set to met us and get us on our way almost as planned and almost right on time even after all that had transpired.

With one little concern still remaining.

Our luggage!

Where did it go?

No problem!

Alitalia had handled it all.

The luggage was right there in Rome in the airport under the guard of our tour guide and just waiting for us to claim it.

Somehow that luggage managed to get the correct direct flight to Rome even though we did not.

Alitalia had done it!

The luggage was in Rome; we were in Rome.

OK! Alitalia!

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe! 

 

Oy Vey! Alitalia!

 (Just to let you know - you are coming in in the middle of a story and to understand what follows, you really need to first read the previous blog publication.)

Standby!

From tourist class to first class and now to standby!

But that was the option, the only option that Pan Am was giving us. We could sit tight and wait and hope and see if standby seats were available for the next flight to Rome.

However, there was another issue.

We were traveling as a group and so what if some standby seats did become available but not enough for our entire group? What happens to those left behind? Would they get on a different flight? Perhaps two or even three different flights? And should that be the case, how do we connect in the hours and maybe even days ahead some six thousand miles away?

And then someone in that very impressive Pan Am office made another suggestion.

Would it help to speak with someone from Alitalia?

Well, since that is where this whole saga began, it certainly seemed like a rather logical move. And so the call was placed to Alitalia and the conversation began.

First a significant door was slammed shut.

The Alitalia representative verified that no authorization could possibly have been given to exchange our tourist tickets for first class. Did anyone recall the name of the agent who gave us that information? Of course, no-one did. The culprit would go scott free!

But yes, Alitalia would cover any standby arrangements. No problem there.

And then came the clincher.

But why were we even dealing with Pan Am?

Alitalia was flying!

In fact the evening flights to Italy were getting set to go right now. How many seats did we need? Yes, there were enough (possibly even our up to then abandoned seats?) on the flight that had just boarded. That flight was scheduled to depart in fifteen minutes.

Get back to the Alitalia terminal ASAP and we would be on our way to Italy almost as scheduled.

Now the Alitalia terminal was right next to the Pan Am terminal. However, unless we walked (and have you ever tried to get a travel group walking briskly? Almost running?) we would need to take the airport shuttle and because the airport road is one way, we would have to patiently sit tight on the vehicle as it made its way all around the airport terminals.

But at this point more help came from those agents in those fancy offices.

Alitalia would hold the flight until we got there.

And so off we went, onto the shuttle and around the airport.

We finally arrived at the Alitalia terminal and agents were standing ready, waiting our arrival.

They whisked us off the shuttle and through the airport, skipping any formalities like passport checks and such. Right through the terminal and onto the plane where, sure enough, seats were waiting for us, just the right number.

And once we were safely on our way, up there five miles above the good earth, there would be beverages (and did we want something like that!) and there would be dinner finally.

And so off we went.

And up we went.

And at last we were on our way. Roma, here we come!

And then the pilot spoke his words of welcome, the usual stuff about how glad they were that we were flying with Alitalia and how, when we had reached that certain altitude, drinks would be served, the seat belt sign would be turned off and we would enjoy dinner.

And then "it" came.

Welcome to Alitalia Flight number --, direct from New York to Milan!

Only we were supposed to be headed to Rome!

But Milan!

Well, when you are 30,000 feet in the air, you do not just get out and board a different vehicle.

We were on our way but . . .

And, of course, there is more to this saga so check back soon!

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe! 

Aye! Alitalia!

 Time for another travel adventure!

And, Oh Yes, I do have more travel stories to share. Just in case you have not surmised this for yourself as of yet, if you have been following this Blog on a regular basis, I have had my share of travel adventures and anyone who has dared to travel with me could plan on an adventure or two in the process. I guess you cn just be grateful that I have now reached the age where travel is rather limited and restricted. The "risk" is likely gone now but once it was a reality and here comes still another example.

This one was a group tour beginning in Rome and venturing off into Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France. I believe this also included a full hour's tour of Luxembourg, just about long enough a stay to enjoy the whole country.

Our trip began with a late morning flight from Detroit to New York. In New York we would catch our Alitalia flight direct to Rome, leaving early evening and arriving very early (Rome time) the next morning.

The timing between our Detroit/New York and the New York/Rome flights was fantastic. We would have time in the airport to relax, catch a decent lunch and be off across the Pond.

And so it began!

Flight to New York - on time; smooth and easy. Next step was to check in with Alitalia and then relax, enjoy, catch a decent late lunch and get ready to board that flight to Rome. There would be dinner onboard but that might not be until around 9:00 PM and so that late but substantial lunch was rather important.

We were off to a great start that is until we got into the Alitalia terminal.

Then it surrounded us.

Pure pandimonium!

People everywhere! Voices raised! Arms and tickets waving in the air! And it seemed like no-one tending the service counters, no-one in an airline uniform, no-one looking like they were in charge or even available to answer questions or provide any assistance.

And clearly from the scene all around some sort of assistance was needed.

Especially when we noticed the Arrival and Departure boards.

All flights cancelled!

Of course, since our trip was arranged by a group travel agency, there would certainly be someone available to assist us in this situation - of course - NOT!

An agent was at the airport in Detroit to assist us, making certain that we had proper tickets, identification, documentation and such. All of our luggage was properly checked through directly to Rome. We would not have to deal with anything while awaiting our Alitalia flight in New York. Smooth sailing and so there was no foreseen need for an agent to meet us in the Big Apple.

We were totally on our own.

And the flights were cancelled as the Big Board informed us.

And finally, finally some agents arrived to staff the service desks in the terminal and as one might imagine, they were immediately swamped by dozens of concerned and even irrate would-be travelers. We were finally able to get to one and to get some actual attention.

Our plight was explained and the agent seemed truly concerned. Could he help our group? He would try? Would we ming being booked on a different airline? Of course not! Not as long as we could get to Rome.

Phone calling began. (This was a while back, remember, and computer usage was still in its infancy. 

Then! Bingo!

The agent was able to find sufficient seats on another airline headed that very evening for Rome. The flight was with PanAm. (Told you that this was a while ago.) However, sad to say, the only seats they could get us were all in first class. Would we mind? Seriously? Would we mind?

First class across the ocean to Rome - such a sacrifice!

By now half of that once free afternoon had been taken from us and we still had to get to the PanAm terminal and get properly checked in but there was still time for that late (very late) lunch before boarding. The PanAm terminal was in a different building and so we had to get transportation and get ourselves into the proper building.

And off we went to PanAm where, upon arrival at that terminal we discovered lines, long lines waiting for ticketing. I think it was also at this time that someone asked about our luggage - like where will that being headed since it was checked through from Detroit. Least of our concerns at this time was the reply. We just needed to get those new tickets into our hands.

The line, long as it was, ate up nearly another hour of our once free afternoon but we finally arrived at the ticket counter. Our situation was explained and we were politely informed that we really did not even have to be in that line. All we needed to do was go directly to the boarding gate. We would be ticketed there.

And so we headed to the boarding gate where (of course) there was no one at the counter since it was still very early and departure was still a couple of hours away. Dare we leave to get some eats? Or should we stay put and secure those tickets?

Stay put - the decision was rendered. And gradually those minutes of planned free time disappeared.

And good things we all stayed put because after another hour had gone away, the announcement came over the PA system that the departure gate for the Rome flight had been changed.

And when I say "Changed," I truly mean changed. The PanAm terminal was Y shaped. We were at a gate at one extreme of that Y and the newly announced gate was at the totally other extreme end of the Y.

We had some fast foot traveling to do. Good thing we were not hauling luggage! Winded we arrived at the new departure gate and, behold, there were actually agents already at the counter. Of course, by this time, it was becoming increasingly evident that were would be boarding rather hungry. That once ample time for lunch had almost totally disappeared by now. Just get those tickets or boarding passes or whatever and get onto that plane.

Only when we got to the service desk and explained the situation, the agent informed us that there was no record of any such arrangements!

Would I like to speak with someone higher up?

You bet!

And so I was escorted into this rather impressive office of someone who was clearly "higher up."

Who very politely listened to the entire saga and then equally politely informed me that such an arrangement was clearly impossible since our type economy (tourist) tickets are never exchanged for first class seating. Best he could offer was to place us on standby!

Aye! Alitalia!

And, of course, there is more to this saga so check back soon!

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe! 

Missing the Mark!

 Or maybe The Mark is Missing!

However one decides to state it, as Ash Wednesday, the start of our Lenten Season approaches this year, we are still in the midst of dealing with the pandemic. And, of course, that means things like social distancing, masking and being to the extent humanly possible somehow touchless.

Ash Wednesday, therefore, presents something of a challenge this year.

Traditionally on this day ashes made from the previous year's dried palm branches are blessed. After the blessing of those ashes, the faithful come forward in procession to have their foreheads marked with a smudge of ashes in the form of a cross. Then, all through the remainder of that day, in workplaces, schools, markets, places of business and up and down the streets those marked with the ashes are clearly visible.

The Mark of the Ashes is there for all to see.

Only this is the year of the continuing pandemic.

And how apply those ashes to that forehead and shape that cross while maintaining that touchless thing?

Well, there are solutions.

One possibility - the masked ministers of the ashes can use either a Qtip or cotton ball to apply the ashes to the forehead in form of a cross. That way the Mark is maintained.

The drawback to that possibility is that a fresh Tip or cotton ball must be used for each penitent and that would mean, in most parish settings, a whole lot of Qtips or cotton balls and someone alongside each minister to present fresh equipment while receiving the used. Not very practical unless dealing with a very small number and even with seating and attendance limitations these days, most churches will still be welcoming significant numbers.

The second solution - and the one that has actually emerged from the Vatican does away with the Mark!

Ashes would still be individually administered but in a pandemic appropriate touchless manner.

Sprinkle some ashes on the head of each penitent!

Grasp a pinch of those ashes with your fingers and sprinkle them over the recipient's head.

Actually, if someone is bald, they would still be marked - sort of.

And as to the rest - well, you will still received those ashes; they will still be there but just not totally visible - unless, perhaps, you are among us sliver-haired elders.

But this year for very, very many the Mark of the Ashes will be missing.

But the ashes will still be there.

And words, familiar words - Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return - will still be spoken before those ashes are distributed.

And Ash Wednesday will still be Ash Wednesday.

And Lent will begin.

And so many will be walking around on that Ash Wednesday with those Marks missing from the foreheads.

Which just may be a good thing.

Because? Well, because we will know that we have those ashes right up there, on top, so very near to that "grey matter" that is also up there. And I suspect that especially this year those ashes, while not visible, will be crying out to be noticed the way that they really should be noticed.

They should be trying to get inside that grey matter up there to speak to us and to remind us that this time called Lent is not about some show and demonstration and "look at what I am doing!"

Those hidden ashes up there should be speaking to us deep within and calling us to remember that this time, this Sacred Time, is all about getting closer to being what God knows that we can be and doing what God knows we should be doing.

Those ashes so near our Centers of Thought may ask us to examine our words, our actions and our attitudes in regard to a whole lot of things and issues and, yes, people. Those ashes just may raise the question in our minds - Is this what God wants of me? Really?

Those ashes might start a process going deep within, where real transformation begins.

Those ashes, silent and hardly visible, might move us on the way to the inner change necessary to bring about some much needed exterior change. This year's Missing Mark just may lead us to a Lent that is truly On the Mark!

And wouldn't it be wonderful if, instead of Marked foreheads on Ash Wednesday we emerged more as Marked Christians on Easter Sunday?

Why not?

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe! 

Welcome to the Family, Mason!

 Yes, indeed! Welcome to the Family!

(And, perhaps, here a word of explanation is in order. Mason is a young lad being baptized this weekend. He is not an infant anymore and so he is rather aware of what is happening. He is all of - what? Five? Anyhow, he has a little bit of life behind him and he is not a baby being baptized. He has an awareness. And so to him I address this message. Perhaps someone will even print this and give it to him when he is a bit older and able to understand better.)

So here goes - Welcome to the Family, Mason!

No, not your human family. You entered that a couple of years ago. That was the easy family to break into.

I am speaking of a whole different kind of Family now, Mason. When that water flows across your head and you feel the oil smeared there as well, when you are holding that candle (assuming that your dad lets you hold the candle) when all of that happens, you will have entered the Family of which I speak, an incredible, amazing  Family, not always perfect but definitely stunning.

It is a Family not bound together by natural blood but by a whole different sort of Blood, Blood shed by One who loved us, loves you, so deeply that He was willing to give His own life so that you, all of us, could live forever. His is the Blood that binds us together and makes us this unique Family.

And I have a strong suspicion that your grandma, who passed into this forever life not too long ago, well, when she arrived, I suspect that one of the first things she did was tap that One who so loves us on the shoulder and she pointed to you and said to Him something like, "Get that boy into the Family!"

Grandmas are like that - always looking after and always loving even across that barrier we call "death."

And so here you come into the Family.

Get to know some of your ancestors in this Family. We have some truly remarkable folk on our Family  Tree.

We go back, way back to include among those whose heirs we are names like Abraham and Isaac and Joseph and Moses. These are names to you now but when you grow a bit older, get to know their stories. You will be impressed.

And you really must come to know a lady from a place called Nazareth. Mary is her name. Mother, housewife, simple, quiet woman who with a single word changed the whole course of human history.

And her husband, Joseph, not a single word of his is recorded in any book, not even the Bible, and yet he holds a place of highest honor in our Family, your Family.

And guys like Peter and Andrew and James and John and Matthew, oh yes, Matthew, get to know his story. It is an important one.

And don't forget Paul (aka Saul.) He wanted to wipe our Family out forever and he was set about doing just that when something happened and he totally changed course, becoming one of the strongest voices for our Family.

And lest I sound like I am throwing a spotlight on the male members of our Family, let me also set before you some of our amazing women - like the Theresa - Theresa of Avila, a woman way ahead of her time, and Thesese of Liseaux,  died too young but live a richly beautiful life, and Theresa of Calcutta, who spent  herself for the folk no one else would give the time of day for. We are blessed in our Family with women who have done and continue to do some remarkable things. Our Family has strong women!

And yes, we do have all kinds in our Family - rich and poor, strong and weak, important and very ordinary, old and young, married and single and widowed as well. We come from every century and every corner of this earth. In this Family you have relatives almost everywhere and from every era in history.

And Mason, I heard that one day not so long ago, you heard your grandma saying something about praying and you said to her something like, "I've got to find out more about that praying thing."

Well, praying, you will learn, is about having conversations with your Family, this Family, even and especially with the One who gave His Life for us, with His mother (and ours) Mary and with any of the others as you get to know them. Even if they have been gone from life on this earth for years and even centuries, they are still Family and we are bound together and they will listen because they care and they can listen because they truly live!

You will have an incredible Family now, Mason!

Welcome!

Oh, and one more thing. 

Take a minute to talk to your grandma and thank her for pointing you out and telling the One who loves us, "Get him into our Family!"

That is what praying is.

And YES!

 

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe! 

It's Time

 Just read a post of Facebook from someone I know. It said simply, "Taking down the tree" and was followed by one of those emojis depicting a face flooded with tears.

Sad moment.

Almost immediately there came a second post, one from still another whom I have come to know over the years. This one showed a photograph of a fireplace, flames blazing, garland and a Christmas tree festively decked with ornaments and lights. And again the declaration that the time had come to put away Christmas, this one adding that the time had provided a bright spot in an otherwise bleak period in our lives.

Sad moment.

Nevertheless, it is time.

Another Christmas Season has become history and now it is time to enter in earnest into the New Year.

For Catholics we are entering a brief period know to us as Ordinary Time. We will get a hefty dose of this Ordinary Time through summer and autumn. This period which we have now is just a sampling, spanning only five and a half weeks.

For most Christians this period is known at the Time after Epiphany.

All basically the same animal.

The days have begun to grow noticeably longer and we may even be noting the days until that shadowy figure of Punxsutawney Phil puts in his annual appearance.

Somewhere along the way there will still be a Super Bowl although this year with empty seats and also, as is annually predictable, absent the Detroit Lions.

And as mid-January arrives, we are reminded that Valentine's Day is right around the corner and St. Patrick's Day follows closely on its heals.

And I just know that most any day now packages of Peas Egg Coloring and those Peeps will be arriving on store shelves.

It's all part of the predictable of this span of Ordinary Time.

Still, it is time to put away the trappings of Christmas and move into that commonplace of Ordinary Time. It is time to get back into some ordinary and predictable and steady and stable. We have been living through so much uncertainty and unpredictability and even chaos and fear.

The past several months have been anything but ordinary. And looking ahead, for several months yet we will not have too much ordinary.

But then, the question we need to face if we have not as yet might well be: what exactly is "ordinary?" What do we mean by ordinary? What do we expect to find, to experience in this "ordinary?"

Perhaps we respond by suggesting that ordinary means getting back to the way things were before . . . 

But do we really want to go totally back to the way things were before our lives were upended by this pandemic?

Perhaps we need to do a close examination of what has changed over these months for us.

What happens if, when reflecting back over the pandemic months, we look not at what was lost but rather at what may have been gained? What are the blessings we can find in these months?

Seriously? Would you really and honestly say that there were none for you? No blessings at all? No treasures discovered? No awarenesses reawakened? Nothing that you would want to hold onto when times return to "normal?" 

What might the New Normal, the New Ordinary look like for you after what we have been living through these past months?

This Ordinary Time that we enter into now is characterized by the color green. And green is the color of the grass and the leaves and the pines and, well, so many growing things.

And that says volumes about what Ordinary Time should embody - growth.

All of our lifetime is meant to be a time of constant growth and discovery, all of our lifetime. And that includes that Pandemic Time.

What might your New Ordinary look like?

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe!