Georgia on my mind

Arrived yesterday in Atlanta from Akron-Canton after a 1-hour 20-minute flight. We left the snow covered fields where flurries chased us out of Northeast Ohio. We landed in 60 degree sunshine and light winds.

The people of Atlanta were wrapped in winter gear whereas Melissa and I breezed into the MARTA train with light jackets and big smiles. The MARTA is the transit line from the airport to Five Points in downtown Atlanta and from the hub to many parts of Atlanta in the inner belt.

I spoke up to a young African American man who sat near us to strike up a conversation. He just returned from Miami on a trip and commented how "cold" it was. "Perspective," he said, "you guys come from the cold near Cleveland and I came from the heat of Miami." With a grin and light conversation, he told us about the MARTA lines and when we entered downtown to be ready for lots of people to cram into the trains. He wished us a great trip and waved farewell at the Chamblee station. "You've got one more stop to go," he said. Nice young man who treated us with respect and kindness. May the Lord grant him success in doing godly things

We arrived at the end of the Gold Line of the MARTA, Doraville station. All along the route we witnessed the diverse landscape. We traveled through graffiti-filled walls and the tenement buildings in the Southside of Atlanta, then saw the opulence of glass-shimmering windows of the downtown, through the assorted ethnic signs of businesses all along the way. We sped pass the buildup of rush hour traffic, making stops along the way and hearing disparate languages in the seats around us.

I was especially struck by the stoic stares as people from different cultures sat together in available seats nearby. When asking for an open seat, a hand gesture towards the open seat and a quick smile were mimed. The seat was granted with a quick smile and a nod. City life! I enjoy the city.

After getting settled into the hotel, Jay & Jan Bell with Arnold & Bessie Betoney we ventured out to eat at a Hispanic eatery, Rincon Latino. I ordered the Chicken Salvadorian-style with fried plantains, rice, beans, slice of tomato, and a quarter slice of lime. Excellent! Our waitress offered either corn or flour tortillas. I asked for both!