The best laid plans......

Friday October 26

Frankfurt Germany

Well, I left the U.S. on Thursday and arrived in Frankfurt on Friday after a smooth flight on Lufthanza with an excellent flight steward attending to our needs.

The start however? Now that was interesting! I got up early Friday, ate breakfast at the hotel (give the Embassy Suites North a ten, their breakfast...not so much) and headed for the airport to turn in the rent car. After a long walk to the bus, and crawling aboard a high, high threshold, I arrived at the airport departure gates.

The plan: Arrive early so I had plenty of time in case I had to walk instead of having the arranged transportation. After checking my bag I would drift on up to the Lounge and while away the time in comfortable chairs watching the planes come and go.

The Reality: At 9:45 I got off the bus at Counter 20. Lufthanza was Counters 60-68. However, they shared the counters with Emirates Airlines and Lufthanza didn’t open to check tickets and bags until 12:45. SO…...I waited with 12,563 people flying somewhere in the Middle East, each with at least 10 bags, one wife, two children and six relatives. Oh, well.

Back to Frankfurt. My friend, Frank was going to meet me at the airport to drive together to Passau. After a quick trip through customs, aided by a wonderful attendant who rolled me from the gate all the way to the exit (bless her poor tired feet!) I met Frank.

The original plan had been that I would meet Micky, my travel agent, and her companions at the airport train station. However, Frank went over early and had rented a car, so it was decided he would meet me instead so I wouldn’t have to walk so far.

However...he had to park in remote parking. So trundling my bags for me (bless every penny I paid for the super easy rolling bags) we set out for the car. As in my previous trip through the Frankfurt Airport we walked...and walked….and walked...and….well, you get the picture. On the way we passed the Airport Train station where, under the original plans, I would have caught the train to Passau. Then we walked...and walked...and….never mind.

Finally we picked up the car and headed for Passau. German Autobahns are wonderful. Incredibly smooth with high speed limits (if it’s not marked, drive as fast as you want.) However….

............To keep this from being too long, I’ll pick up the story again in the next blog…….

MORE PICTURES

REFLECTIONS:

I think I love it when God shows me who is really in charge. Brings real meaning to the phrase “God Willing!” Of course it’s really better (are you listening, Sir?) when He agrees with my plans and they go flawlessly.

In all seriousness, time and time again He calls me to work on control issues and impatience. I’m nearing the south end of 80. To quote the song paraphrasing Ecclesiastes, “when will (he) ever learn, Oh, when will (he) ever learn.”