Travel stories |
Many travel situations that are stressful in the moment can ultimately end up being amusing stories and memories. Some are just hard, but can also teach us lessons for the future. During my first solo journey with 2 month old Lauren, she had some enormous ‘blowouts’ that leaked onto me (understatement; I was covered with stinky poop.) I had been so proud that I had the foresight to pack her an extra outfit along with plenty of diapers. It hadn’t occurred to me to bring a change of clothes for me. After my airplane 'poopageddon’ incident, I added the ‘bring a change of clothes for the grownups’ to my list of travel advice. Over the years, I lost count of all of the people who heeded that particular nugget and sent me a virtual blessing from the airplane bathroom as they changed out of the stinky garments. And then there was the time, on the way home from Disneyland, that 3 year old Alana stood up in the front of the plane and had such an enormous, explosive vomit, that it spewed over several rows of passengers. Lesson from that? Only that you can get through it and live to tell the tale (and maybe that there is such a thing as ‘too much Disneyland). The following are some of my favorite travel stories. The cheerios necklace Many years ago when my daughter Lauren was two, I got creative as I was planning for an upcoming flight as a solo parent. I had seen a craft in a magazine (long before Pinterest existed) where a necklace had been made of cereal and I thought that this seemed like a fabulous thing for an airplane trip. Unfortunately, not all ideas turn out to be good ones. Lauren and I strung some Cheerios onto elastic and she proudly wore her new necklace onto the plane. Soon after take-off Lauren decided to snack on some of the Cheerios. I noticed with some dismay that as she bit off a Cheerio, about half would go into her mouth while other parts would shoot off like little spitty projectiles. They were landing (unnoticed by anyone but me) on just about everyone within a couple of rows of us. As soon as I realized what was happening, I tried to see if there was a way for her to nibble them off more delicately without making a mess. When that didn't work, I tried to take the necklace off to make it easier or to have her stop eating them at all. But as mentioned, she was two. My choices were clear - tantrum on the plane or unsuspecting fellow passengers having little pieces of spitty Cheerios in their hair. I opted for peace (besides, ignorance is bliss, right?) Sometimes your cute kids will get you a cookie When our kids were young, most family trips involved visiting grandparents. On one trip to Florida to see Nanya and Papa, we had brought a new art project to keep the girls happy. It was a little gizmo that you could rub with crayons and create little drawings of different fashions. Lauren became prolific with it. Before we had gone too far, she was on a first name basis with all of the flight attendants and was doling out her drawings. To her delight, cookies and treats from first class were given in exchange. On our return trip as we were boarding, I heard, “it’s Lauren! I have your drawing on my refrigerator.” We happened to have the same flight crew. Yes there were warm cookies on this flight as well. Amy and Asher My sister Amy went through several years of having horrible flight karma. With flying, I need to put things into perspective. These were inconvenient as opposed to hazardous; she ultimately arrived safely to her destination, and her suitcase would follow up within a week or so. But poor Amy missed connections or lost luggage so often that no one in the family ever expected her to have an uneventful trip. We tried our best not to travel on the same itinerary with her. It got to the point that she started to pack bathing suits for the family because she might as well be prepared for an expected/unexpected night in a hotel and maybe it would have a pool. On one such journey, she was traveling with her husband Jim, her 31/2 year old son Asher and her baby Ben, who was less than a year old. The first leg of the trip was delayed. The connection was tight. They ran through the airport, carrying kids and carry-ons. They made it just before the boarding door had closed, but at this point their assigned seats had been given away. There were still some seats for them but they were scattered throughout the plane. Jim got a seat in the back of the plane with the baby and Amy and Asher were given two middle seats across from each other. The people on the aisles and windows were not willing to switch to allow this mom and her young son to sit together. I understand that no one wants a middle seat, but come on!! Amy played it brilliantly. “Asher, you just ask the nice gentleman to help you if you need something. I will be over here reading” She got out her book.... Over the next fifteen minutes she heard: “Can you help me open my juice box?” “I need help opening this fruit roll up?” “Would you like to play dinosaurs with me?” I was surprised that it lasted as long as it did “Uh, maam, we can swap so that you can sit next to your child” Nurse Judy talks too much My days of traveling with children and worrying about how many diapers to pack, were well behind me. My husband Sandy and I were on a long travel day returning from a visit to my in-laws in Florida. We had just gotten settled on the plane. As is our habit we booked an aisle and a middle. We were starting to be pretty hopeful that we would have empty middle - always the goal. We watched people enter the plane and pass us by as they headed to the back of the plane. Just when we were about to spread out, a few last minute passengers rushed in. A frazzled mom with a VERY young baby squished between us. Mom was very anxious and apologetic. “I am so sorry, I know that no one wants to sit near a baby’ I hope she doesn’t cry…I really apologize” I introduced myself and was quick to reassure her. “Don’t be silly. I am fine with kids and babies. In fact I am a pediatric advice nurse.” “Wow, I hit the jackpot, I am sure I have so many questions that I would love to ask” Just then the flight attendant came by: “Ms ….. We have a passenger who is willing to switch seats so that you can sit next to your husband” Uh, what? She had her husband with her? The mom responded “Tell him thank you, but I am going to stay put and take advantage of sitting next to Nurse Judy” Over her head I caught my husband's eye. Being together for so long, an entire conversation took place in that one glance. Must you be so friendly…? She and I continued to chat. It turned out that she was a teacher's assistant at the school that our children used to attend. We played the six degrees of separation game and knew dozens of people in common. Sandy ended up being a full part of the team. He even took his turn holding the sleeping baby. He was a willing part of the diaper changing shenanigans using all three of our seats as a changing platform. There are some things in your control and things that are not.
What isn’t in your control is the other passengers. Indeed there are unpleasant folks out there, but I think most people are very accepting. Focus on the smiling faces, but let anything else slide off your back. |
