What a long day! I was in my car for over nine hours today. My ankles are swollen and protesting tonight.
I got a call at 8:45 from Captain Fleshman from the Detention Center letting me know the driver’s license for the lady I transported yesterday are at the office in KCMO. I immediately called the volunteer that said she would drive Helen’s car to that office and agreed to meet her at Helen’s hotel at 10:00.
I got there at 10:05 and Helen and the volunteer were waiting for me. We exchanged hugs and information about where we were headed. We agreed not to caravan and each stop independently as needed for the three hour trip to the office of the Department of Homeland Security which is located up by the airport in KCMO. Helen rode with the volunteer in her own car and I drove my car alone.
My tummy was not happy with me today so I had to make a couple of bathroom stops. I realized I was trying to balance holding the truth that how immigrants are being treated these days sucks and the truth that love is present and people can be very helpful as evidence by the help the Captain provided and the volunteer provided.
One can hold opposite points of view and find that sweet spot where one can hold themselves in balance with holding them. I struggled all the way to KCMO to find that sweet spot. My tummy did not like the struggle today!
We got to the office in KCMO around 1:30 and Helen was able to retrieve her driver’s license. The office is holding her social security card and her work permit. They said they would possibly be returned to her at her court hearing in Baltimore, Maryland next week.
I gave Helen some cash for her trip home. She is driving herself to Maryland this weekend. She lives alone and has had to pay rent and utilities for the time she was detained with no income coming in. She promised to let us know the outcome of her hearing next week.
We gave Helen lots of hugs and blessings and then the volunteer and I headed back to Wichita. We stopped for lunch and the volunteered paid for my lunch! She did me a hugh favor by helping me out today and still she paid for my lunch. Then we stopped for gas and she hopped out and paid for the tank of gas. Geez! What a blessing she was for me today.
We had a delightful conversation on the way home and the trip home went fast. I got home around 6:30 this evening. My ankles are not happy with me sitting for nine hours and are swollen and complaining. I told them to stand in line! I am a bit cranky and deeply grateful tonight.
Thankfully I don’t have anything on my calendar for the weekend. It is going to take me a day or two to decompress and allow myself to feel all the feels. There is an emotional component to doing the transfers that shows up after I get home. I have learned I will need some time and space to process all the feels and get back to my grounded center.
It may be an early bedtime for me tonight. I feel very empty and drained tonight. It was a roller coaster of emotions for me and I am feeling that tonight.
Grateful for the help from the Captain and the volunteer today, grateful for a safe trip of over nine hours today, and grateful for the peace and quiet of home tonight.