Doing something with anything

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do

something. And what I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to

do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

-- EDWARD EVERETT HALE

Last weekend, my husband Jon and I flew up to visit our daughter

Amy and her husband Tyson in San Francisco. We were so excited to see

them and had a wonderful time, but I’m writing about some people we

encountered before we landed.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at the John Wayne Airport. Perhaps we

flew at an ideal time because there weren’t long lines, but I was

impressed with the security people that particular morning. They were

friendly, patient and helpful and reminded me that I’d save time if I

put my belt and shoes in the tray before I walked through the

screening detector.

I waited on the other side of security for Jon, who had parked the

car. While waiting, I noticed a man I assumed to be blind. He wore

dark glasses and walked with a long stick that he used to direct

himself. I was impressed by how well he navigated through the airport

as angles changed and people walked by quickly, sometimes bumping

into his stick. I was also surprised when he went into a little shop

and emerged with a newspaper under his arm.

When Jon appeared, we started walking toward our gate and found

ourselves walking next to the same man. We struck up a conversation.

It turned out that he was also flying to San Francisco, and we walked

together. When we pointed out that he needed to turn to the left to

avoid a wall, he thanked us.

While we stood at the gate, we talked a little about his life, and

I was amazed by his attitude. We learned that he flies all over the

world; in fact, he’d gone to the Olympics, and he explained which

places are better for him to take his guide dog, and which places are

better for him to navigate on his own.

He was headed to the USC--Stanford game and was going with

friends. He also explained that he’d bought a copy of the Los Angeles

Times to take to his friends in San Francisco, so that they could

read more about USC than they could in their local paper.

He asked about us and was appreciative when we walked down the

stairs with him and talked him through several other turns before

climbing stairs to the small plane on which we were scheduled to fly.

I never once heard a complaint about his condition, only excitement

about life and thankfulness for friends and others.

Once on the plane, Jon and I noticed a woman who was knitting. We

asked her about it and learned that she and her 12-year-old daughter

were knitting blankets for a hospital. I told her that was a

wonderful thing to do and how special it was to do it together. She

was allowed to bring knitting needles on the plane because they were

blunt.

Others around us were friendly, as was our flight attendant. It

was a great reminder that God has designed us each as unique

individuals with our own roles to fulfill. We can all do something.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

[email protected] or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.