“Morning Rev. Elliott,” she called as I made my way through the airport.
She looked vaguely familiar and was surrounded by High School kids who were all taking over the Starbucks near the Delta gates.
“I’m Dora. I used to work at Union Mission,” she beamed as we shook hands. She was there with a Bulloch County High School is on their way to New York City for an “Educational” trip she explained while making quotation marks with her fingers.
I laughed. “Good for you!”
“You look good” she said rubbing my shoulder.
“Thanks. I am good.”
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Pittsburgh.”
“OK … hey I just want to say that I loved working for you. It was a wonderful time.”
I smiled and rubbed her shoulder. “I want to thank you for everything you did to make us do all of those things. We helped a lot of people.”
“We sure did,” she exclaimed.
Making my way through the kids I couldn’t help but think that this is a nice way to start the day. It’s funny I fly out of Savannah a lot and rarely do I encounter people that I know. Most seem to be going to and from Hilton Head. I see more Savannah people in the Atlanta airport than I do in Savannah.
Settling into my seat on the plane I spy a couple in the seats in front of me whispering intently. Then this elderly couple stands and turns towards me awkwardly.
“Are you Micheal Elliott?” both ask at the same time.
“I am,” I reply awkwardly standing to shake their hands.
They smile at me. “You helped our son a while back. We never said thank you. We thought that it was you.”
What does one say?
“You’re welcome,” I reply. “That’s why we were there.”
They sit back down. I sit back down. I have no idea who they are ... or who their son is.
Last week and this week Jodi has had me getting in touch with people that I haven’t talked with in a year. So I sent them an email asking for a favor and it’s been interesting. There was this immediate burst of replies from people across the country … Atlanta, Idaho, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Chicago …
Then typical Savannah waited a few days before responding (well, aside from Peter Doliber who is always fast on the draw) so over the weekend and the first of this week I started getting responses. Also in typical Savannah fashion most said that they would but only if I would meet them for lunch first.
Hmmmm … this could become a pain in the ass. Of course in Savannah all business actually takes place during lunch, Happy Hour, dinner or on somebody’s boat. I’m not really sure why anybody has an office.
But … I feel good. I evidently look good too. Who knew? And though I’ve been doing this work sporadically over the past few months, it begins in earnest today.
I’ve signed a contract and work starts in Pittsburgh before moving on to Anchorage, Austin, Cleveland, San Juan, and Santa Barbara. There is also this thing in Philadelphia that I’m committed too. Atlanta keeps calling but … it’s Atlanta.
This Sabbatical that I’ve been on has been long was overdue and it has been good for me. If you ever feel that you need one, or have to just get away from it all, then I strongly encourage you to listen to yourself.
I didn’t and it costs me.
But then it sent me on this journey because I had no choice. At first I simply went around in circles like dying Horseshoe crabs on the shore. Then I said to myself, “To hell with this. I got one life to live. I’m not going to spend the rest of it like this. I’m living to love another day.”
And I do.
And it’s time to go back to work.
So today I am.
But there is nothing the same about who I am.
And I feel fine.
