Grand Hotel Mackinac Island almost realized
. Again the 97 Buick Skylark was traversing the road north to Wichita , Mid Continent Airport Gary’s point of embarkation, a United Airlines 737 flight to Chicago O’Hare, then a flight northeast to Lake Huron and the Tri City (MBS) Airport servicing Midland, Bay City, and his destination Saginaw Michigan. The traveler journeying during this Thanksgiving holiday to affront an ICQ internet acquaintance whom he had visited with for many months, a lady of standard whom had recently suffered a major physical difficulty. Debbie’s occupation, a transcriber of recorded court proceedings, typing the audio transcript on a computer word processor as a written document, returning the results to the subscribing court appointed attorneys and other parties. For some unbeknownst reason her vision having literally overnight diminished to the point she could no longer decipher the printing on her computer screen, her circumscribed vision problem now a concern that she would lose her livelihood and source of income.
. The arrival in Chicago, O’Hare terminal #3 always enjoyable to Gary, the underground walkway with the tantalizing chiming stereo sound and the psychedelic lighting giving a presence of entering another world. He could envisioning the artisans of this production, unprecedented in their fortitude for this artistic endeavor, the structure providing a remembrance to all that passed thru it. His travels continuing, boarding a 737 for, the Michigan Tri-city Airport, disembarking finally meeting Debbie and friend Vicki who had provided the transportation considering Deb’s recent disability. Gary was pleased that unlike other inaugural meetings with a new internet acquaintance, discovering their appearance didn’t exactly correspond to a self-description or photo, pleasantly surprised that Deb justified the photo she had posted.
. Gary looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his Michigan internet friend, not surprised at the snow laden covering on the ground, a norm for Michigan this time of the year. The person from Kansas, finding the unheralded hostess, providing a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and all the trimmings, her sight not being impaired enough to distract from a kitchen performance. The following morning, the two traversing to the hospital for a scheduled MRI, hopefully to discover if there were any neurological reasons for her demise vision. The preliminary results reflecting no neurological problems, but a waiting period for the doctors official reading remained. Gary having contemplated taking advantage of his Michigan journey to explore the tri-city area and lake front, but having never experience the non forecast snowfall from what was called The Lake Effect, when cold air moves over warmer water, taking up moisture, that later precipitates as snow when the air moves over land, and wasn’t too enthused to brave the weather.
..Giving it some thought, there was a destination that always intrigued him, one influenced by the movie, “Somewhere In Time“, starring Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, the departure site for the alluring destination on Lake Huron was about a three-hour drive, Placing a phone, there was a resurgent, the season for charting an accommodation having just closed. Further adjustments prevailed as Deb’s car developed a difficulty, and would no longer start. Gary suggesting they call and have it repaired, but Debbie insisted that she knew a mechanic that would take care of it, but he wouldn’t be back until after the holiday weekend. Gary somewhat distressed finding himself stranded in his new acquaintance home, although in good company, not wanting to be sequestered.
. His return Sunday having arrived, a late arrival by Vicki to transport them to the airport, the three arriving as a final call for departure for Gary’s flight was being announced, Gary not happy with the rush to board the plane, and the brief goodbye to Debbie. Once aboard, the 737 remained on the Tri-City taxi way for a long time, questioning a stewardess to the reason for the delay, her reply, the problem wasn’t Tri-City, but O’Hare, traffic was back-up because of the weather. With the delay Gary thought he would miss his connecting flight, but apparently, it too was running late, Finally airborne on his final leg to Wichita, from the air Wichita’s Mid-Continent would be a welcome sight. The 90 mile drive, the newborn winter wheat just starting to flourish, a contrast to stark naked brown landscape of the Michigan winter. Gary’s visit to Saginaw Michigan somewhat enjoyable, his acquaintance with a friend acceptable in many regards, realizing a person to person confrontation trumps the written and spoken word.
. The premonition still resided within, his employment questionable. the hiring of Rory Reed, Rory informing Gary, he would be available to assist in the upcoming projects at the Manor. It was the last week of December 1998 and payday, when Gary was summoned to the administrator’s office, the administrator handing him a check, and without an explanation, given notice his employment status was terminated effective immediately. With all the changes in his life in the last year, Gary had already come to a decision, if this day should come, he wouldn’t question or contest his termination, not because of a lack of valor or justification, but acknowledging it would be better for all, not to add to the reflected heresy of aspersions.
. Gary wasn’t surprised that the word of his termination at the hospital had spread among the members of the Apostolic Church, and Ron Allenbach and Tom Farney were making inquiries on Gary’s behalf, for employment elsewhere. The days following his release were spent waiting on the monetary funds from his closed 403 hospital retirement account, Gary considered his termination not a dismissal, but a liberation, now able to give thoughts to opening other doors of opportunity, recognizing the world knows no bounds.
Inquisitive Quest 
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