Revisiting

It has been strange that after all these years, I have had to revisit the very airport which I equated with one of my least favorite memories. It is also interesting how these new visits have changed my view of this airport. It all depends, I guess, on what we equate a place with. My original visit to the Denver airport was dreadful, but now each time I fly into the Denver airport it is to see my son and his family. My original horrible memory seems to be fading....and so I want to record it before it is totally gone.....

February 1996

Boarding the plane to New Orleans, with one stop in Denver. No sooner was I seated and I felt horribly sick. By the time the plane touched down in Denver I was deathly ill. I disembarked and attempted to make my connection.

"Ma'am, you don't look well, can I help you?"

"I'm fine, I just have to sit down."

"Ma'am, I don't think you are fine."

I collapsed and was carried off the plane.  I vaguely remember emergency workers being called.  The next thing I know my blood pressure is being taken and they are calling for an ambulance.  It was all very surreal.
I faded in and out of consciousness.  The next thing I knew I was in an ambulance speeding its way to a hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

"What's your social security number?"

My brain is trying to get my mouth to answer. I have no idea what my social security number is. How would I know? I've lived overseas for so long where social security card numbers are not important.  I would not be able to remember it even at a good time; I definitely can't remember it in this midst of this crisis.

"What's your husband's social security number?"

WHO KNOWS!!

Thankfully I had written them down in my diary before leaving Japan, so I mumbled and fumbled around and they figured out that they were supposed to look in the diary. I couldn't concentrate on what they were saying.

"Blood pressure is dropping"

"Where have you come from Ma'am"

Ma'am? Who are they calling Ma'am?? I'm not an old lady!

"Ma'am what is your name? Do you know who you are?"

"What is your husband's name"

STOP ASKING ME ALL THESE QUESTIONS, I can't concentrate!

"Why are you rubbing your fingers?"

My hand is numb, I can't feel my fingers, I'm trying to feel my fingers.

Everything becomes a blurr and then I wake up in the emergency ward. HORRORS I don't have stateside insurance. I had heard how expensive the medical costs are in the States.


I get the attention of the nurse, "Excuse me nurse, I would just like to go. I have a plane to catch."

I thought I was talking loudly, but apparently I was barely whispering.  The nurse leaned down and I repeated myself. She patted my shoulder.

"You aren't going anywhere honey. Just lay back and relax."

"No you don't understand."

The nurse looked at me quizzically. "What's that you are saying, I can't hear you?"

Why can't she hear me I'm talking as loud as I can, why can't I increase the volume? How will Daniel know that I am in an emergency room in Denver? What will happen when Doug goes to pick me up at the New Orleans airport and I don't show up?

I refused blood tests. I refused treatment. I signed myself out of the hospital. My insides quivered and my legs wobbled like jello. Sitting in the taxi speeding back to the airport, I wasn't even sure I would be able to make the last flight out.

The airline personnel were helpful. They listened to my story and looked at the documents I'd  brought from the hospital. I was told I could make the flight. I felt so sick, but I tried not to show it. I knew I had to be strong. If I could just get on the plane and make it to New Orleans. There was a short time before the plane was ready to be boarded, so I stumbled along the corridor looking for a phone.

Daniel answered the phone and I broke down in gutwrenching sobs.

"Who is this?"

"Its...its...its...me....I'm...."

"Connie! Is that you?? Where are you? We have been sooo worried? What has happened to you?"

His voice made me cry all the more because I wished we were together. I just wanted to  fall into his arms and let him take care of me. I needed him so much and yet I was so far away. I was able to calm down long enough to let him know I was very sick and that I was attempting to get on the last flight out.  Could he contact those in New Orleans and explain the situation?

I did make it to New Orleans, not realizing this was not the end but the beginning of one of the greatest nightmares of my life.

Dreams

We all have a dream...whether we realize it or not. Sometimes it is a dream which has been beaten down and is on its last breath. Other times it is a dream just beginning to be birthed. The most awesome of dreams are those which have matured to a point where they can be vibrantly pursued. 

What is my dream? Of course, I've had many small goals, visions or targets but what is the underlying dream which pushes me forward? 

My forefathers had a dream. John Tilley came over on the Mayflower with a dream. I'm not exactly sure what his dream was. Maybe he wanted to be able to worship the way he wanted. Maybe he had dreams of setting up a new life for himself. Unfortunately his dream was short lived. He died soon after arriving in America. He left his daughter, Elizabeth Tilley to carry on his dream.

Thirteen year old Elizabeth was taken in by John Carver and his wife. I am trying to imagine this young 13 year old taken far from the only land she knew only to be left stranded in a land she knew nothing about. She was forced to pursue a dream she had not chosen for herself. This young girl stood up and shouldered the dream.

By the spring of the next year, John Carver and his wife had also died. Would her dream die? Would this young teenager throw up her hands in despair and surrender her dream? 

John Howland, John Carver's indentured servant, stepped up to the plate and married Elizabeth Tilley. Imagine a young teenage girl losing her parents and then later losing the only other people she felt close to. She bravely accepts an offer of marriage and continues on to fulfill her dream: a dream of creating a new life for herself. A life of freedom to choose how she wanted to worship. A life filled with children and grandchildren. 

Her will made it clear how important she considered her relationship with Jesus. She charged those who came after her to live this relationship out. She lived her dream, she never gave up when things were tough. Her determination gave her the ability to pass her dream on to the next generation. Her example encourages me to know my dream and to live it out and when I die I will pass it on to those who come after me.

Jet lag 4.45 am

I wonder if there is any evidence to show that when one travels West the jet lag is worse. Whenever I go East, I appear to respond well to the time difference. Anytime I go West, my inner body clock gets all mixed up.

So here I sit at 4.45 am....not that I have woken up at this time...but I simply never fell asleep. There were no naps taken yesterday which could account for this failure to sleep. There was no caffeinated drinks which would hinder said sleep. Despite remaining awake all day, I still seem unable to sleep at a proper time.

4.48 am and I'm still sitting here typing. I think I will crawl back into bed and see if I can't at least sleep for an hour or so before I have to get up and tackle my day. The rain might put me to sleep. My husband's snores could lull me to sleep...or not...at least I should try to sleep.

When I crawl into bed, I will count all the times I have struggled with jet lag over the years. Maybe the counting of these memories will put me to sleep....like the proverbial sheep.

Pneumonia Saga

Not sure how I got it....never wanted it in the first place...but there it was...Pneumonia! At first I thought I had a common cold- or the flu- but as days went by, I realized this was something far more serious. 

Thankfully, Deanna's niece is a competent doctor at Raffles Hospital. She really out did herself in taking care of me. The Pneumonia was discovered quickly and heavy duty antibiotics prescribed. It took a few days for things to kick in, but thankfully I was ready to fly out of Singapore by Tuesday.

Now I know how it feels to suffocate...breathe and not feel as if you are getting enough oxygen. It does not feel pleasant at all. I thank God for good medical care, great family and friends and of course His divine healing! Even the doctor was shocked to see how I had improved when I went in to see her for my follow up consultation. Aside from a nasty bit of Bronchitis type thing attempting to piggy back the tail end of the pneumonia, I was better....weak, but better!!


Now I am back with my darling husband. I am happy to be improving. The saga is almost over.

Mohammed Mustafa

If you want to get anything worth getting you can find it at Mohammed Mustafa. This store is massive. The only problem is there are always crowds of people. It is actually amazing to think this huge store came from such humble beginnings.

Haj Mohammed Mustafa started out selling simple food from a moving cart. His son, Ahmad, joined him and started selling other things besides food. Haj Mohammed Mustafa was so impressed by his son's business sense, he decided to branch out into selling clothing. The business continued to expand. Ahmad continued his father's business and went on to open a small store selling clothing. Over the years the store has expanded into the giant super store it is today!*

Super stores are great for finding whatever you need, but they are horrible for the crowds they attract. A few years ago, the store decided to go to a 24 hour time table. Normally I would go to the store at 3 am because I know this is when the least amount of people would be there. Last night, Cassandra and I decided to go shopping at 10.45 pm. We were sure everyone would be done shopping and we could have the store to ourselves. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The streets in front of Mohammed Mustafa were jammed with people. Driving in and out of all the crowds was enough to drive me crazy and I hadn't even gone into the store to shop. Once I found a place to park, Cassandra and I dashed into the store only to be greeted by another wall of people. Thankfully we had our lists in hand, otherwise I think the vast amount of people would have made me forget everything I had gone to buy.


People jostled up and down the aisles. Pushing and shoving appeared to be the way to go if you wanted to acquire anything in the store. After about an hour, we made it up to the cashier and paid for our goods. The crowds had not diminished, in fact, they had increased. Popping out into the street, we managed to get back into the car and drive away. Amazingly, we did not hit any of the people meandering down the middle of the road. 


Although I used to love going to Mohammed Mustafa in my younger years, I think I'm not so impressed with the crowds anymore. If I have to go back, I will definitely do a 3 am run in hopes of missing the herds of people.


*information in this portion of my blog update was gleaned from
Singapore pages.

A Special Treat

Sneha and myself at Bugis Junction, Singapore

It is a special treat to meet someone who you have been wanting to meet for awhile. Sneha is such a special young woman. I came to know her via her blog- now she blogs about travel.  She loves art, loves life and is ready for any adventure thrown her way. It was indeed special for me to be able to meet up with her in Singapore, of all places!

We sat and chatted, as if we had known each other for years. We explored topic upon topic. We laughed. We talked more. The time flew and before we knew it we were both delayed from our next appointment. 

What were the odds of us both being in Singapore at the same time?! Incredible! We meet via blogspot and following each others' blogs - I from Africa and the US and she from India. Now we meet up in Singapore where I have come back for a short visit and she is here for a six month stay with her husband.

A Cup of Tea

I'm a firm believer in a cup of tea being a great help in any situation. 

"Your boyfriend dumped you?  Here have this cup of tea!"

"Oh, now now...you'll pass the next exam...sip your tea... it will make you feel better."

"What do you mean you are getting married?!! Hold on, I'm going to put on a pot of tea and you will tell me all about it!"

You get the idea. Good times or bad times, tea should always be a part of it. There is just something so reassuring about sipping a hot cup of tea....lots of milk and sugar helps too.

It was for this very reason my daughter and I ventured out to sit down for a delicious "high tea"....as she said, "Mom, we NEED this!"

So with the help of a great blog we were able to locate a tea place on Orchard Road. Of course, by the time we had driven through traffic, made wrong turns and went around robin hood's barn, we were more than ready for the tea. The Cova proved to be all the blogger had said it would be and more.