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. ❤️
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🙂
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.
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.
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.
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 :-)
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.
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.
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. ❤️
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🙂
Loved the cake story, loved the illustrations, loved the benediction.
I'm a new subscriber as of a few minutes ago.
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.
I’m so happy to find your Substack newsletter! Just subscribed and shared.
One word: gorgeous.
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.
Your illustrations and letters fill me with peace and joy. An absolute delight to read. Wish you all the good things!
Another day, another beautiful Dandelions Seed piece. Love that sentiment so much, and wish you blue skies and tailwinds in return!
What a beautiful blessing, Candace, and what a gift to be able to witness it. Thank you for sharing this with us. ♥️
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.
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?
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 :-)
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.
Lovely. Beautifully paced. And the benediction of "tailwinds" reminds me of the one used for anglers: "tight lines!"
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.