From The Back Of The Plane

A few months ago, I took a trip and chronicled it as “The Not So Friendly Skies”

I began a trip yesterday and the experience could not have been more different.

The first leg of my journey started in Augusta, GA  and  found myself in the back of the full CRJ.  Had some brief  niceities with my seatmate, talking abut our jobs, where we were heading to and the fact that there was a ground-stop because of thunderstorms around Atlanta.  It wasn’t until we were almost ready to land that I happened to look down and see a picture of a Gibson Les Paul guitar on his smart phone.  The rest of the short flight was us comparing collections (his was much more extensive and impressive) and sharing photos off our iphones.  Mason even  invited me to a few FB groups for guitar enthusiasts.

We landed and and I again had to make my way from one terminal to another in a very short period of time. I made it to the gate and was the last person to board the plane, a Boeing 757-300.  As I made my way down the isle to the back, I observed lots of empty seats throughout the plane.

Those of you familiar with the plane know there is a “back section” with about 12 rows of seats. I was ticketed for back there and as I got to my row, there already was a husband and wife in two of the three seats, so I offered to find another seat for all of us to have more room.

The row behind them was a woman and a toddler.  What made me decide to sit there, I do not know, but it ended up being one of the best plane rides of my life.

My buddy and me.

The young boy was fussing just a little and I started doing all that cute stuff grown-ups do to babies.  He started smiling.  His mom was trying to get a bottle ready for him while holding him on her lap.  I offered to hold him for her and there was that brief moment where she wasn’t sure if she trusted me.  I took him and started playing with him.  At that point I introduced myself and learned his name was Jerimiah.  Over the next hour and a half, we shared some Alphabets cereal, played and napped, (He napped,  I read and mom got a little break and napped also)

Talking to his mom, Lenora,  I found out that he was almost eight months old and this was his fifth time flying.  They had been visiting family in Mobile, Al and were heading back to Kalamazoo, MI and his dad would be waiting for them at baggage claim.  Once settled, he was just a joy and I got my first view of what being a grandfather might be like.  We were in the very back of the plane  and when everyone was almost out, I offered to help her get off as she had two bags in addition to Jerimiah.  I carried him out to the gangway where his stroller was waiting, gave him a good-bye kiss and then made my to the carousel.

The hour and a half flew by (pun intended) and I found a part of myself that had been hiding somewhere  for a few years.

Thanks Mason, Lenora and Jerimiah. Y’all put me in a great mood for the rest of the day.

 

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