Sylvia Harney

I was so blessed to be a part of the first Women's Conference at Cornerstone.  We were privileged to have Sylvia Harney as our speaker, she is so funny, spiritually deep, and just an all around wonderful person.  I got to pick her up at the airport, at first it was going to be me along with another individual but everyone fell through and I went it alone.  I was okay with that because I am a strong woman and believe I can do anything!  I had never picked up anyone at any airport before so I had no idea what I was doing, I have been to several different airports and had even been to this one but had never driven myself there.  The last time I was at KCI was in July 2000...just a few years, ha.

I arrived in plenty of time, parked my car in one of the many airport parking lots, found her gate and waited patiently.  I met her as she was heading toward baggage claim, hugged her, and told her I had to go get my car aaaanndd that it might take a few minutes.  She was ever so sweet and said no problem, she would claim her luggage and wait for me.  I gave her a description of my car and away I went.  I looked at my phone and noted the time 10:09 a.m.  I walked outside to get on a bus to take me to the correct parking lot.  I had my ticket/receipt thingy from the parking lot.  As I was walking toward the bus stop my phone rang, it was Sylvia, she wanted to tell me she was safely on the ground...I was confused.  I said...o.k? I am still going to get my car.  Then it dawned on her, "Oh! she said, "You're Christy!"  She didn't realize we were the same person, she was just checking in with me because I had been one of the people that had arranged her coming to the conference.  She's almost as crazy as I am!  I got on the bus and it stopped at every stinkin' terminal, I was getting impatient, I was thinking of poor Sylvia waiting for my return, I just wanted to get her and be on the road back to Sedalia.  I exited the bus and started walking to where I thought my car would be...but it was not there...I used the panic button on my key ring...to no avail!  It was raining, I was wearing flip flops (what an idiot)...I was still thinking about Sylvia, ahhhh!  I checked the ticket and made sure I was in the right parking lot, it matched.  My car has been stolen!..I thought, maybe?  I briefly started to tear up and then I remembered something.  I entered this parking lot but drove to the next one and parked...I started jogging to where I thought I left my car, my phone rang...it was Sylvia, she asked me if I was okay (she thought I might have gotten mugged or something).  I assured her that I was okay and that I would be there in just a few minutes...apologizing.  I got in my car, drove to the correct terminal and headed to baggage claim.  I pulled up to the curb and called her and said I was there...she stated that she just saw a black PT Cruiser whiz right past her.  I drove to the wrong baggage claim, same terminal though.  She told me to just stay put and she would walk down.  I got out of my car and saw her lugging two bags down the sidewalk towards me.  I apologized again and got her bags in the car...it had taken me 40 minutes to pick her up!  Thankfully she was so very gracious.  We talked all the way to Sedalia.  I took her back to the airport for her return flight to Nashville, it was without incident...

But I did ask her to take a picture with me before she left.