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Friday, August 29, 2008
So I made it in one piece to St Louis.
What I really enjoy about travelling on my own is the chance encounters that happen. I have to admit that an English accent in these circumstances helps, or at least facilitates strange encounters.
After my 8 hour flight I meet it bleary and weary into Detroit for my 3 hour change over. After the salt laden airline meal the sushi bar with authentically earnest chefs looked to meet like a lighthouse in all the hullabaloo of travellers on a mission. Installed at the sushi bar I ended up sharing my meal with a bankrupcy attorney from Glastonbury, USA. He offered my legal advice if I ever had the need and made the common assumption that the British are pre-occupated with the Royal Family.
While waiting for my flight I eyed up the passengers and spied a small nun, dressed in blue. I imagined who I would be sitting next to and wondered what it would be like to have the clarity of vision that a life in the church would one for me. As I boarded my flight I found myself seated next to sister Mary. She was from the Phillipines and was en-route to her house in St Louis. As i listened to tell me about her life i just kept imagining what it would be like to live without a relationship, children, television and although I liked her very much i couldn't even imagine the faith in her life. I did, however ask her to party for my devoutly Catholic Grandparents as they are both facing challenges with their health, and I knew that Gran would appreciate it.
When I went to pick up my suitcase I was introduced to all of the sisters from the church and Mike (Steinberg) found me surrounded by ladies in blue, almost all called Mary.
After a brief stop off at the hotel - St Louis Hilton, all chandeliers and pillow cart - and we were invited for dinner at a friend of Mike's. It was so good to visit someone's house. After an amazing meal we sat down to watch Obama accept the presidential nomination in front of an adoring crowd of 84,000. As a Brit, watching this live, with a receptive American audience I felt incredibly moved and felt very strongly the yearning for "a new day", as they say on the Wire. If the election can be won on charisma alone then he has no competition. It's a whole different approach here, much more confident, more polished and I tried to imagine Gordon Brown, Blair or hilariously Boris Johnson in the same arena.
posted by Jeanie Friday, August 29, 2008
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