Oh my, what a day. I got very little sleep last night. I could not fall asleep until around 5:00 this morning. Sure makes for a long night when that happens.
Kathy and I picked up a friend and we headed to Wichita for lunch and then to go to the Van Gogh experience. Five others met us for lunch. The place wasn’t busy and we were able to have a nice, long leisurely lunch. Both food and service was excellent.
We had 2:00 tickets for the Van Gogh experience. By luck we had eaten at a place that was within walking distance of where we needed to go. I didn’t plan that but am grateful it was that easy.
The Van Gogh experience was worth the trip. The 30 minute immersion part of it was fabulous. I think all of us enjoyed it.
We got home around 4:45. I was just settling into my chair when the Captain of the Detention Center called. He had a person that needed a ride. They called back around 5:45 and told me he was released and ready to go.
I met him and we talked about where he needed to go. The first stop was to get a new phone. His phone had gotten left behind when the incident that got him into trouble had happened. We stopped at Walmart and took care of that. He was opening the box the phone was in and the little black thingy that opens the part to put the card in fell on the floor. He couldn’t find it so he took the phone back in the store and got another one.
He opened the second one and the same thing happened! This was not a good day for this guy. Luckily he found this one.
I got on my phone and investigated bus options. The bus no longer stops in Emporia. You have to go to Newton, Wichita or Topeka.
We attempted to purchase a ticket for the midnight bus in Topeka. But after he entered all his information they needed to send a confirmation code. He didn’t have the phone working and so couldn’t get the code to confirm the ticket. The other problem is the bus stop in Topeka is not a bus station and you can’t purchase tickets there. You either have to have it on your phone or print the ticket out.
I couldn’t purchase the ticket as we didn’t have a printer and he couldn’t take my phone. The tickets are not transferrable and it wouldn’t allow me to order a ticket in his name under my credit card.
Dang, they don’t make this easy.
I drove him to Topeka and we found a hotel across the street from the bus stop. I have no idea how he is going to get a ticket but hoping the hotel can help with the printing and he can figure out a way to get his new phone connected. He needed some code that was to have been in the box with the phone but he couldn’t find the code. Round and round the mulberry bush, where it stops, no one knows!
I got home around 9:30. I am wiped out! Not sure I was ready for this part of the Love in Action project but it was an interesting experience. I am grateful I could help him out and trust that he will find some solutions after getting some sleep tonight. He did have some financial resources so hoping he will get home safely.
Phil worked on putting up insulation this afternoon. I talked to him briefly and hope to catch him tomorrow. I need to let him know the shower tile will be delivered sometime next week.
Tomorrow I need to pack. I got the paperwork for the Love in Action non-profit today and need to read it and process it. I may put that on hold until I get back from India so I don’t rush it and miss something. I didn’t realize the Detention Center was going to need our services so quickly. I was kinda caught off guard when the Captain called but I’m glad I was able to help out. I learned this is going to be a bit more complicated than I anticipated.
Saturday morning I need to be at Nicole’s house before 8:00 so we can get to the airport and have plenty of time in case TSA is backed up. We are hoping our flight will be able to get in the JFK airport as the airlines have been ordered to cut 10% of their flights. So far they are saying the international flights will not be affected so hoping we can get out Sunday. We will allow lots of extra time to get through security at JFK.
Hoping sleep will find me tonight. I am exhausted. Driving to and from Wichita and then to and from Topeka was more driving than I normally do. Wichita was totally worth it and I highly recommend going to the experience. I love Van Gogh anyways and it was so cool to see how they presented his paintings.
I keep wondering what would have happened to this kid tonight if the Captain hadn’t called me. He had no way to get to the bus stop and purchasing a ticket is a challenge without a working phone. Man, it made me grateful for my life and the ease I can operate in.
Grateful for the time with my dear friends today, grateful to get to go to see the Van Gogh experience, and grateful to have been in service to a guy that was having a very bad day.