She was

As I rushed here and there grabbing this and that and stuffing them where they needed to go.  I knew I had only moments to finish this task that needed to be done.  It was difficult to think beyond the simple details of what needed to go and what should stay.  It was consuming really and for an instant I saw just how crazy it was; the little things of life shadowing out the important things of life... but I couldn't actually stop to think about it because the time was ticking away.

With one last frantic glace at the clock, I closed the suitcase and headed to the door.  My flight would be leaving in just 2 hours and I knew that security would create a zoo, so off I sped.

Thankfully, the airport was only a short drive away and my faculties were now addressing the weaving traffic.  It was consuming really, this driving in traffic and for an instant I saw just how crazy it was being on the roller coaster ride of the interstate...but I couldn't actually stop to think about it because if I didn't give the road my attention, I wouldn't make it to the airport in one piece.

With a sigh of relief I turned into the airport parking lot.  Jumping out, making a quick assessment that I had emptied out the necessary items that I needed to take with me, I locked the car and briskly headed for the airport entrance.  My mind was filled with thoughts of what was next and working through the logic of becoming prepared.  It was consuming really this being prepared for the next thing and for an instant I saw how crazy it was being busy planning all the time...but I couldn't stop to think about it because the next thing was upon me already.

I made my way through the door towing the burdens in my luggage and supporting the ones on my mind.  I took in the panorama of the busy lines at the check-in and my mind seemed to be alerted to something 'wrong'.  What was it?  I had no idea consciously.  But something was tugging at me, signalling a red flag.  I instinctively began to slow all of my processes down in an attempt to figure out what was amiss.  Then I saw her, curled up in a corner.  She was wearing a ragged red coat.  She was obviously crying and I peered around to see if anyone was caring for her; I did not see anyone taking any notice of her.

For a moment I waged a war with myself trying to argue for and against becoming side-tracked.  The responsibilities I had should be kept; there were others counting on me...  Suddenly, like the zooming in of a camera, I was zooming in on me, untangling the rambling of life with the importance of living.  I saw something ugly in that rambling of life, something that was consuming me AWAY from the importance of living.
I let go of my burdens, took a moment to stop and think and walked to that corner where she was.