Once again, you bring me to tears. I need this today. Your keen attunement to pause in life always astounds me. If we all implemented this fine art of seeing the joy peppering our path, the world in which we live would be so much better. Help me, God, to activate this today. ❤️
Thank you so much, Mom -- I'm so glad this was just what you needed today, and I only wish that you had been there, traveling back to Belgium with Elena and me, when we spotted the table and cake :) Missing you (and Ellie!) terribly this week! 🤍
Finding the meaning of life in the most unexpected places, that is living fully with intention. Well done pulling this off with a toddler at the airport! You are a great writer, artist AND superwoman🙂
Donna! Your comment is the best 😊 I certainly didn't feel like superwoman last week in the airport, but the blessing for the pilot definitely got me through a few rough hours on our overnight flight.
Also, I just love what you wrote here: "Finding the meaning of life in the most unexpected places, that is living fully with intention." Thank you for putting that so beautifully! 🤍
Thank you, David! Both for your kind words, and for subscribing to Dandelion Seeds...your support means so much 🙏 I'm delighted to hear you connected with this story -- I loved bringing it to life, and I'm so glad the blessing it held spoke to you.
Love the first illustration of that tail. We got to participate in a pilot farewell once: all the passengers had boarded and the flight crew finished their announcements, when suddenly they broke into a perfectly coordinated ensemble performance thanking the pilot for his years. It was funny and loving and set the tone for a great flight.
No way! That sounds amazing, and what a fun moment to be a part of. Talk about setting the tone for not only a great flight, but I imagine for the whole journey ahead 😊 Thanks so much for sharing that, Tom.
What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing. I am a new subscriber to your page here and as I read through most of your essays, one quote came to mind from Einstein, "There are only two ways to live your life. On, as though, nothing is a miracle and other, as if, everything is a miracle." Your stories are lovely, inspiring and most certainly in the latter category :). Keep shining your light. I look forward to your posts.
Ahh Neetu! That quote from Einstein is one of my favorites, and I'm beyond honored that what I share here on Dandelion Seeds inspired you to think of it -- thank you for sharing that, and for your beautiful words of encouragement...they mean so much 🤍
Ragha, your comment means so much to read -- I can't thank you enough for taking the time to say hello, and for letting me know that what I share here speaks to you. And it's an honor to hear that it brings a bit of peace and joy into your days...that's all I could ever hope for 😊
Candace, as I said before, there is always goodness in the world, and often when we least expect it.
Two stories from the international airport in Khartoum, Sudan, where travelers were required to declare all electronic devices and foreign currency upon arrival and accounted for on departure. If a laptop was declared, the make and serial number was noted next to the entry stamp in one’s passport. The same process was used to record foreign currency a traveler arrived with. Upon departure, the traveler’s currency was inspected and official bank transaction receipts were required if a traveler exchanged foreign currency for local Sudanese pounds.
These requirements were enforced for both international travelers and Sudanese citizens. It was not taken lightly by the government. I remember the horror I felt once when I read about two Sudanese doctors who were hanged because they were found to have undeclared US dollars.
The inspection of currency declarations and imported electronic items took place in a small, curtained off booth as the final step before departure. Each time I entered the booth and was searched, I was always a little unsettled. What if I forgot to declare something? I often thought of the two doctors.
I was in Sudan when the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed and I left a few days later. As I entered the dreaded booth, the inspector asked for my passport. When he saw that I was American, his demeanor instantly changed. He looked at me with genuine empathy and said he was so sorry for what happened to my people. “Those criminals do those things in the name of Allah, but that is not Allah’s way,” he said and again expressed his sorrow for the victims of the bombings.
I left the booth with a renewed sense of our shared humanity and the goodness that comes so unexpectedly in the most unlikely places.
Another time, another departure, I was again heading to the dreaded booth. I handed my passport to the inspector, who thumbed through it until he found the entry stamp. Handwritten on the entry stamp was the name of the organization I worked for. As soon as he saw it, his demeanor also changed. He asked me how long I had worked for the organization and I told him. He smiled and said, “Thank you, sir, for the help your people gave to my mother. She received a loan from your credit program and started a small business after my father died. Your people have helped my country in a very good way.”
Once again I left the booth full of gratitude for unexpected human goodness and goodwill. I learned that when I least expect it, I should expect it.
Thank you so much for sharing these stories with us, Switter -- they are both such poignant moments of humanity, but the second story is especially moving...how amazing that the inspector had a personal connection to your organization. I love those moments when it's as if a curtain is suddenly pulled back and we get a glimpse of just how connected we all are, despite what can feel like insurmountable differences.
And thank you as well for the beautiful words that opened your comment -- "There is always goodness in the world, and often when we least expect it." Amen 🙏
There is something symbiotic happening when I read your posts. So often, they evoke half forgotten memories of wonderful things I experienced during my travels that were too often blocked by hard experiences. I must express my gratitude again for the healing I experience from seeing the world through your innocent, peaceful, and joyful perspective. It lifts me up, so thank you.
Just to be clear, when I say innocent, I don’t mean naive. I use it to mean fresh, untainted, and hopeful.
Switter, your words mean so much to read -- it's incredibly humbling to hear that what I share here on Dandelion Seeds has been part of your healing journey as you process all that your travels and time in the world held for you. I couldn't ask for any greater motivation to continue creating and sharing, thank you 🙏🙏
Thank you so much, Monica! I'm so glad you enjoyed this story, and I so appreciate you asking about prints as well -- you're the third person this month to ask about that, so you've given me a lot to think about and new possibilities to explore :)
(By the way, I'm not sure if you got my email earlier this week, but I was hoping to get your address so that I can send a 5x7 print your way as a small thank you for becoming a paid subscriber. Please let me know if you can't find it, though, and I will send another note! 🤍)
In two weeks I will also be flying with a toddler (the last time we did it she was 7 months old and slept through everything), so I'm already preparing myself mentally for it. Taking the blessing for myself too :-)
Kinga, your kind words mean so much...thank you! I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying what I share here on Dandelion Seeds 🤍
And that sounds so similar to my own journeys with Elena! She was also about seven months old when we took our first flight, and it was such a different experience -- things are never quite the same once they start moving, are they? 😅 Please know I'm sending lots of good traveling vibes your way, and I'll be hoping you have a smooth and blessed trip!
After checking your insta like a creep I can now verify that Elena is exactly a month older than Zoya so it seems we are following your trajectory very closely! (Though our flight will be a lot shorter)
Just in case it's helpful, btw, I thought I would share a couple things that made a big difference for us on this trip. We had a bulkhead seat on our first long flight of this trip -- so not only could Elena sit on the floor in front of me, playing and reading on her own a bit, but it also meant there weren't any screens in sight (like there were on our long flight back to London, and it was so hard to get her to stop looking at them!). Also: SNACKS. They would buy me little moments of stillness with her, and that also helped keep us going through the flights :)
Wow Candace, I so appreciate you posting this. It’s been a rough few weeks so those parting lines were just what I needed to read and brought all the feels. I am hope the long flight went well and you two are settling well back at home.
Ashley, I'm so sorry to hear the past few weeks have held some storms for you -- they are never easy to navigate, are they? But I'm so glad to hear that this post found you at just the right time...I've been on the receiving end so many times, when a certain post was just what I was needing to read in that moment, so it really means so much to hear that this story could be that for you this week.
Thank you for sharing that, and please know I'm sending peace and light your way 🤍
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jeffrey -- I'm so glad you enjoyed this story. And how fun to learn the benediction of anglers...I'd never heard "Tight lines!" before, but love knowing about that now :)
I love this. That's a six-hour at least "bus ride" kind of flight across the Atlantic, but anything crazy thing can happen when it's time to take off or land. Indeed, dear pilot, may your final flight bring you blue skies, tailwinds, and good things.
(By the way, I'm not sure if you got my email earlier this month, but I was hoping to get your address so that I can send a print your way as a small thank you for becoming a paid subscriber :) Please let me know if you can't find it, though, and I will send another note! 🤍)
I must've sent it to the bin by mistake. I'm not used to getting such a wealth of emails since joining Substack, so please send another note and I'll get you my street address. Thank you.
Once again, you bring me to tears. I need this today. Your keen attunement to pause in life always astounds me. If we all implemented this fine art of seeing the joy peppering our path, the world in which we live would be so much better. Help me, God, to activate this today. ❤️
Thank you so much, Mom -- I'm so glad this was just what you needed today, and I only wish that you had been there, traveling back to Belgium with Elena and me, when we spotted the table and cake :) Missing you (and Ellie!) terribly this week! 🤍
Finding the meaning of life in the most unexpected places, that is living fully with intention. Well done pulling this off with a toddler at the airport! You are a great writer, artist AND superwoman🙂
Donna! Your comment is the best 😊 I certainly didn't feel like superwoman last week in the airport, but the blessing for the pilot definitely got me through a few rough hours on our overnight flight.
Also, I just love what you wrote here: "Finding the meaning of life in the most unexpected places, that is living fully with intention." Thank you for putting that so beautifully! 🤍
Loved the cake story, loved the illustrations, loved the benediction.
I'm a new subscriber as of a few minutes ago.
Thank you, David! Both for your kind words, and for subscribing to Dandelion Seeds...your support means so much 🙏 I'm delighted to hear you connected with this story -- I loved bringing it to life, and I'm so glad the blessing it held spoke to you.
Love the first illustration of that tail. We got to participate in a pilot farewell once: all the passengers had boarded and the flight crew finished their announcements, when suddenly they broke into a perfectly coordinated ensemble performance thanking the pilot for his years. It was funny and loving and set the tone for a great flight.
No way! That sounds amazing, and what a fun moment to be a part of. Talk about setting the tone for not only a great flight, but I imagine for the whole journey ahead 😊 Thanks so much for sharing that, Tom.
I’m so happy to find your Substack newsletter! Just subscribed and shared.
That's so lovely to hear, Michie -- I'm delighted the universe led you to Dandelion Seeds today! Thank you so much for reading and subscribing 😊
One word: gorgeous.
Two words: thank you! 😊✨
What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing. I am a new subscriber to your page here and as I read through most of your essays, one quote came to mind from Einstein, "There are only two ways to live your life. On, as though, nothing is a miracle and other, as if, everything is a miracle." Your stories are lovely, inspiring and most certainly in the latter category :). Keep shining your light. I look forward to your posts.
Ahh Neetu! That quote from Einstein is one of my favorites, and I'm beyond honored that what I share here on Dandelion Seeds inspired you to think of it -- thank you for sharing that, and for your beautiful words of encouragement...they mean so much 🤍
One of my faves too!
Your illustrations and letters fill me with peace and joy. An absolute delight to read. Wish you all the good things!
Ragha, your comment means so much to read -- I can't thank you enough for taking the time to say hello, and for letting me know that what I share here speaks to you. And it's an honor to hear that it brings a bit of peace and joy into your days...that's all I could ever hope for 😊
Another day, another beautiful Dandelions Seed piece. Love that sentiment so much, and wish you blue skies and tailwinds in return!
Ahh thank you for your wonderfully kind words -- they mean so much, and know I'm wishing you the same as your journeys continue! ✈️
What a beautiful blessing, Candace, and what a gift to be able to witness it. Thank you for sharing this with us. ♥️
Thank you so much, Roseanne -- I'm so happy to hear the blessing resonated as much with you as it did with me 🤍
Candace, as I said before, there is always goodness in the world, and often when we least expect it.
Two stories from the international airport in Khartoum, Sudan, where travelers were required to declare all electronic devices and foreign currency upon arrival and accounted for on departure. If a laptop was declared, the make and serial number was noted next to the entry stamp in one’s passport. The same process was used to record foreign currency a traveler arrived with. Upon departure, the traveler’s currency was inspected and official bank transaction receipts were required if a traveler exchanged foreign currency for local Sudanese pounds.
These requirements were enforced for both international travelers and Sudanese citizens. It was not taken lightly by the government. I remember the horror I felt once when I read about two Sudanese doctors who were hanged because they were found to have undeclared US dollars.
The inspection of currency declarations and imported electronic items took place in a small, curtained off booth as the final step before departure. Each time I entered the booth and was searched, I was always a little unsettled. What if I forgot to declare something? I often thought of the two doctors.
I was in Sudan when the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed and I left a few days later. As I entered the dreaded booth, the inspector asked for my passport. When he saw that I was American, his demeanor instantly changed. He looked at me with genuine empathy and said he was so sorry for what happened to my people. “Those criminals do those things in the name of Allah, but that is not Allah’s way,” he said and again expressed his sorrow for the victims of the bombings.
I left the booth with a renewed sense of our shared humanity and the goodness that comes so unexpectedly in the most unlikely places.
Another time, another departure, I was again heading to the dreaded booth. I handed my passport to the inspector, who thumbed through it until he found the entry stamp. Handwritten on the entry stamp was the name of the organization I worked for. As soon as he saw it, his demeanor also changed. He asked me how long I had worked for the organization and I told him. He smiled and said, “Thank you, sir, for the help your people gave to my mother. She received a loan from your credit program and started a small business after my father died. Your people have helped my country in a very good way.”
Once again I left the booth full of gratitude for unexpected human goodness and goodwill. I learned that when I least expect it, I should expect it.
Thank you so much for sharing these stories with us, Switter -- they are both such poignant moments of humanity, but the second story is especially moving...how amazing that the inspector had a personal connection to your organization. I love those moments when it's as if a curtain is suddenly pulled back and we get a glimpse of just how connected we all are, despite what can feel like insurmountable differences.
And thank you as well for the beautiful words that opened your comment -- "There is always goodness in the world, and often when we least expect it." Amen 🙏
There is something symbiotic happening when I read your posts. So often, they evoke half forgotten memories of wonderful things I experienced during my travels that were too often blocked by hard experiences. I must express my gratitude again for the healing I experience from seeing the world through your innocent, peaceful, and joyful perspective. It lifts me up, so thank you.
Just to be clear, when I say innocent, I don’t mean naive. I use it to mean fresh, untainted, and hopeful.
Switter, your words mean so much to read -- it's incredibly humbling to hear that what I share here on Dandelion Seeds has been part of your healing journey as you process all that your travels and time in the world held for you. I couldn't ask for any greater motivation to continue creating and sharing, thank you 🙏🙏
This was a truly wonderful story and the pictures, as always, are gorgeous. Would you ever offer the window seat staring as a print for sale?
Thank you so much, Monica! I'm so glad you enjoyed this story, and I so appreciate you asking about prints as well -- you're the third person this month to ask about that, so you've given me a lot to think about and new possibilities to explore :)
(By the way, I'm not sure if you got my email earlier this week, but I was hoping to get your address so that I can send a 5x7 print your way as a small thank you for becoming a paid subscriber. Please let me know if you can't find it, though, and I will send another note! 🤍)
Yes, I finally went through emails and address sent 🙂
So beautiful!
Definitely my favourite newsletter.
In two weeks I will also be flying with a toddler (the last time we did it she was 7 months old and slept through everything), so I'm already preparing myself mentally for it. Taking the blessing for myself too :-)
Kinga, your kind words mean so much...thank you! I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying what I share here on Dandelion Seeds 🤍
And that sounds so similar to my own journeys with Elena! She was also about seven months old when we took our first flight, and it was such a different experience -- things are never quite the same once they start moving, are they? 😅 Please know I'm sending lots of good traveling vibes your way, and I'll be hoping you have a smooth and blessed trip!
After checking your insta like a creep I can now verify that Elena is exactly a month older than Zoya so it seems we are following your trajectory very closely! (Though our flight will be a lot shorter)
Ahh no way 😍 and Zoya is the best name!
Just in case it's helpful, btw, I thought I would share a couple things that made a big difference for us on this trip. We had a bulkhead seat on our first long flight of this trip -- so not only could Elena sit on the floor in front of me, playing and reading on her own a bit, but it also meant there weren't any screens in sight (like there were on our long flight back to London, and it was so hard to get her to stop looking at them!). Also: SNACKS. They would buy me little moments of stillness with her, and that also helped keep us going through the flights :)
Thank you! All noted and appreciated!
Wow Candace, I so appreciate you posting this. It’s been a rough few weeks so those parting lines were just what I needed to read and brought all the feels. I am hope the long flight went well and you two are settling well back at home.
Ashley, I'm so sorry to hear the past few weeks have held some storms for you -- they are never easy to navigate, are they? But I'm so glad to hear that this post found you at just the right time...I've been on the receiving end so many times, when a certain post was just what I was needing to read in that moment, so it really means so much to hear that this story could be that for you this week.
Thank you for sharing that, and please know I'm sending peace and light your way 🤍
Thank you so much. They are never easy to navigate and I am finally starting to feel a bit of tailwinds. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Lovely. Beautifully paced. And the benediction of "tailwinds" reminds me of the one used for anglers: "tight lines!"
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jeffrey -- I'm so glad you enjoyed this story. And how fun to learn the benediction of anglers...I'd never heard "Tight lines!" before, but love knowing about that now :)
I love this. That's a six-hour at least "bus ride" kind of flight across the Atlantic, but anything crazy thing can happen when it's time to take off or land. Indeed, dear pilot, may your final flight bring you blue skies, tailwinds, and good things.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Sue!
(By the way, I'm not sure if you got my email earlier this month, but I was hoping to get your address so that I can send a print your way as a small thank you for becoming a paid subscriber :) Please let me know if you can't find it, though, and I will send another note! 🤍)
Haven't heard from you yet. You can email me at scauhape@protonmail.com.
Hi Sue! I just wanted to confirm here that I got your email, and your print will be on its way to you this week :) Thanks so much! 🤍
Thank you.
I must've sent it to the bin by mistake. I'm not used to getting such a wealth of emails since joining Substack, so please send another note and I'll get you my street address. Thank you.