Zürich, yes, with an umlaut
Raconteuse JK Frog #32 - 30.May2025
“A view of Zürich from a restaurant on the hillside”
It was time to board the Lufthansa flight to Zurich.
2018 already had accumulated eight months in the year.
Jemma was on her way to Camino de Frances with 21 kilos (46.2 lbs.) in her lightweight backpack, lightweight down sleeping bag, walking sticks and every lightweight item that could be purchased under the sun.
The very pricey lightweight panties that promised to dry overnight, lightweight towel and wash cloth that promised to do the same.
Everything on her back was a first for Jemma, it felt restrictive and yet totally liberating.
Still all this lightweight weighted to approximately twenty-one kilos plus a kilogram or two.
When she reached her seat a slim, seasoned gentleman with glasses was already seated and buckled up in her assigned seat.
It was the aisle seat of the duce seats on the right wing side of the ten across seat aircraft, a Boeing 777.
The gentleman was engaged in conversation with a young twenty something gal with her arms glued around a stuffed animal of sorts.
A large and fluffy stuffed animal definitely not age appropriate.
“Hello sir, this is my seat.” said Jemma.
The young gal snapped at her with the intensity bite of a barracuda.
“He’s sitting here with me”, she retorted authoritatively.
This was a first for Jemma on an international flight, as she stood frozen in the moment.
Passengers were lined up behind her and she needed to make haste.
“Ok, I will inform the flight attendant of the change in seating,
The flight attendant was sympathetic and made the seat adjustment.
He was more that accommodating once in the air with gracious service of food and drink.
She sat down in the aisle seat, originally the seat of the gentleman.
As she determinedly pushed her backpack under the front seat she introduced herself to her new seat mate, a gentleman.
When she introduced herself, he responded with, “my name is Samuel.”
Ahh, Samuel.
Samuel is one of my favorite Biblical stories.
Hannah, Peninnah, Elkanah, Eli and Samuel, an Old Testament story.
The story of Hannah.
Elkanah had two wives.
The first was Hannah;
The second was Peninnah.
Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.
Every year Elkanah left his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and to sacrifice.
Elkanah would share the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, he always gave and especially generous portion to Hannah, because he loved her so much.
And because God had not given her any children.,
Peninnah, her rival wife taunted her cruelly because she was barren of child.
An intense dialogue of the Hannah Story ensued.
Samuel had been traveling nine hours connecting flights to Newark and now was flying to Nairobi, Kenya via Zurich.
Their transatlantic conversation would be a conversation that would shift the perspective now not only for Jemma, but also for Samuel and his wife.
The story of Hannah flowed from Jemma’s lips like a font.
It was one of her favorite Biblical stories.
She and Samuel continued in conversation incessantly exploring the characters, plot, subplot, spiritual theme and symbolic message.
Their connection personified a consciousness awareness.
Jemma was mindful of the woman seated next to Samuel and the intensity of her listening ear.
“Samuel, is the woman seated next to you your wife?” Jemma inquired.
Yes, he answered.
“What is her name?” she asked.
He responded: “Her name is Angelique.”
“Oh, she must be your angel.”
After an uncomfortable timely pause, he answered.
“Yes, she is.”
“She is my angel.”
Their conversation moved forward to the current events in Nairobi, Kenya.
The subject of both embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar Es Sallaam, Tanzania August 7, 1998.
The current unrest around the elections was a lengthy discussion.
They continued an exchange of views about the continent of Africa and future possibilities for the people, despite the challenges of the past.
Samuel’s travel would continue from Zurich to Munich, and a final flight to Nairobi.
When they would arrive in Nairobi home would be another six hours to their village.
It was an excellent flight and the Zurich airport was familiar to Jemma.
A long time friend would be meeting her at the airport.
She met him at a garage sale in 1989 while he was doing post doctorate work at Rutgers University.
Plans were set for her to have a short visit before taking the train to Paris.
Upon landing Zurich, Jemma, Samuel, and Angelique stood up, acknowledging their good byes and extending hands in “good will” handshakes.
Angelique leaned over in front of Samuel to share a kindness with Jemma.
“You were sitting exactly where you were supposed to be sitting on this flight.”she said with an all aglow smile.
Jemma smiled and nodded.
She felt a pang of pure joy.
It was her firm belief that there was always something in a name.
They “got” each other.