Human Connection and the Bigger Picture
A man sits alone in a quiet corner of Raleigh Durham terminal one and tunes his mandolin. I have escaped to the terminal which is quiet, not reflecting the chaos at the ticketing counters outside caused by panicked travelers who arrived to learn of cancelled flights. I received word of my cancellation via text at 3:00 a.m. and quickly called and rebooked through another connecting city. Those in line at the ticket counter slept instead. I don't know which one of us really made the better choice as I type at 37,000 feet not knowing whether I'll make a connection and whether I'll find open passable roads once I arrive in Denver. The mandolin is one of my favorite sounds. I walk laps but linger at that end of the terminal and slow my pace. The sound is soothing and beautiful. On one of my laps I discover a man has approached the mandolin player and asks him a question. Soon there is a mandolin playing "Silent Night" and an angelic voi...