Of Last Days and Last Flights

Last days in book tours are rushed affairs: pack, check-out, eat a hurried breakfast, then head to the first event.     

  Above: Living Arrows School 

After that, a quick lunch is all you can afford, because the next event awaits. (Photo ops, however, are non-negotiable They have to be squeezed in.)  

By this time you'll be panting. Then in a taxi to the airport, you wish the driver would go faster because your flight (the last out of Iloilo) is less than an hour away. Ugh, traffic snarl.

Airport, finally. There are a few minutes left to buy the expected pasalubong.  Suddenly the PA system blares your name: “Grace Chong, please proceed to Gate 4 for boarding."  This is repeated a few times, the next more urgent than the last. You run as fast your flogged body and bad toes could manage.  

As you limp into the plane, people gawk as though seeing someone from Saturn. Blushing, you strap your seat belt on and whisper, Whew!  You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and thank your Enabler for making you catch your flight and for all the etceteras and etceteras of the four-day book saga, focused on proclaiming His grace.    

Up in the firmament, after being allowed to recline your seat, you turn on your cellphone, click on Gallery, and as you scroll down, down, down, you smile at each shot, and say under your breath, Memories are made of this.  

Then your soothed body and mind bring you back to why you are there and Who brought you there.

"I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness." Psalm 145:4-7 (NLT)