Last Leg of Train Ride

Well just when I thought I had the hang of this train thing…OMG!!! There is someone in my seat. What are you saying, "Brescia." No, I'm going to Torino. WRONG TRAIN!! Announcement DOORS ARE CLOSING!! WHEW got off in a nick of time. Run! The whistle is blowing and my train is about to leave. OMG!!! I made it. 

Okay. So, what is the life lesson here? Any takers? I'd love to hear from you. I was breathless and ever grateful to all my spirit helpers who assisted with the quick and clear thinking in a strange situation. My seat partner is not too friendly until I asked for help in knowing when my stop was coming up. Then she jumped in and offered some help. 

I just received a call from Jennifer who is picking me up at the train station right after she fetches Coco at a nearby station. Coco will be my roommate. I never have a roommate because I like the quiet, so this will be a new experience. I am wondering how this came to be and what lessons are waiting for me.

We arrived in Damanhur to find dinner waiting for us. We are both very tired from the tension of travel and ready for a good night’s rest. 

As we are unpacking, I learn that Coco is also surprised to have a roommate and is wondering, as I am, about the reason for our meeting.

Sound asleep, I miss a great noise that woke Coco and at least three others during the night. No one seems to know what the sound was. If it happens again, I asked Coco to awaken me. 

So now we wait......

Later,

PC

Train Friend

Taking the train from Assisi to Firenze, known to me as Florence, is a tense experience, traveling alone, not knowing the language or how the train system works. I purchased the tickets before leaving home so that I would be certain to have them. It cost me a lot more money for that bit of security. What a lesson in trust. I could have simply waited till I went to the train and purchased my ticket here.

As soon as the taxi delivered me to the station, I looked for a ticket agent. Office was closed so I headed for the cafe to ask some questions and decided to purchase a sandwich. At that moment, a couple of nuns walked in and I felt drawn to follow them down the hall. They met another nun and I asked about the posted departures when their friend said that she was going to Firenze. Talk about feeling out-of-control when, in fact, everything is just as it should be. I now had a traveling companion to Firenze.

At this moment, I am traveling on a train, through a long dark tunnel, with my new Franciscan nun friend, Michaela. We don't speak a common language so I pulled out my iPhone translator and we have been communicating a bit with our fingertips.

The ticket agent came through to check tickets. Hooray. He speaks English and explained that there are two stops in Firenze and mine is the second one, where I get my connection to Turino.

It is almost time to switch trains in Firenze.

When we got off the train, Michaela kissed me first on the left and then on the right cheek and lifting her hand in blessing she formed the cross on my forehead blessing me as I journey.

Now surrounded by a mob of people at the train station I am thankful for having the ticket in hand.

I trust I will find a new friend.

Pastor Carol