I travel all the time for work. I am blessed to work for Oracle and I am even more blessed to travel the US and Canada as I get to meet the most amazing people. Most of them are just doing their best to survive in this crazy world; most will never be famous; most will never be rich as the world views rich. But they are incredible, amazing people, each with a story. While I am unable to remember every story in great detail, I can remember some. Here, in this blog, I want to honor the people that I have met, hoping that, in some small way, they can be recognized for how truly incredible they are. Each has left their mark on my life...and each has entered my life for a purpose.
Recently I traveled to Oklahoma City, my original home, from Denver, my current home. When I travel I often talk to people on the plane. On this trip, though, I really just wanted to listen to the brand new Taylor Swift CD that I had just downloaded on my IPOD mini. I was honestly not in the mood to chit chat with some would-be suitor! An elderly gentleman sat down next to me and asked me if I was going home. The question was loaded indeed...and caused me to smile and pause. I was indeed, going home, to the place of my birth, to a place I had not lived since I was 9 years old. I answered him with a No, I live in Denver, but a yes, I am from Oklahoma City, so I guess I am going home.
While my visit was work-related, I managed to have some fun on my own time and even a lot of laughs while at work. I have several cousins that make Oklahoma City their home and had arranged prior to my arrival a time to get together with them. The night I arrived we met for dinner along with their families and children. There were 8 of us and we polished off 3 bottles of wine! Prior to dinner, my cousin, Paula, took me on a driving tour of downtown Oklahoma City. It has changed a great deal since I had lived there! The highlight was the Oklahoma City Memorial; the 168 chairs representing those that died lit up in the darkness of night; it was an image I will never forget. The day before I left I met Paula and her sister, Colleen, for lunch. It was a much more conducive atmosphere in which to get to know each other and reminisce about family stuff. I was so glad that I had the opportunity to be with them as we really haven't known each other for the majority of our lives.
On Wednesday of my trip I decided to visit the Memorial as it was quite close to the hotel where I was working. It was a sunny yet blustery day so I took the hotel's shuttle there and back. It was amazingly peaceful at the Memorial, yet haunting at the same time. The city did a wonderful job of honoring nor only those who perished, but also those that survived the great evil that was perpetrated against them. On the Survivors Wall were the names of my two second cousins, Jordan and Hayden, permanent monuments to the fighting spirit of our family. It warmed my heart. I had indeed gone home.
Going Home
