When it comes to family vacations, my son, Tom, makes Clark Griswold seem like the Grinch. No matter what happens, he’s calm, reassuring and upbeat—even, as seen here, after losing his phone in the water. (Lisa is taking photo.)
Stick with me here; there’s a moral to this tale I’m about to unravel. After four airline cancellations in one day, we were off on our trip to Mexico. Well, not exactly. What should have been a direct flight of less than 3 hours turned into a two-day saga that sent us through Charlotte, where we disembaked on the tarmac during a downpour and spent an unintended overnight in North Carolina.
There’s something about going through TSA, three times in a day and a half, that makes it feel like a scene from Ground Hog’s Day. Each time my robotic parts set off the detection system and require that I have the “airport massage” from a TSA agent, who thinks this bulge around my waist comes from carrying dynamite sticks.
It occurred to me to write a post on the ways kids make the best of an airport delay. Here are a few of their pastimes as seem in the photos below. As I munched on airport nibbles and stared blankly into my iPhone, the kids amused themselves like the old airport pros they are. Many of their antics will work for disgruntled adults, as well—with the possible exception of #6, which might get you thrown out of the terminal.
How to Pass the Time at the Airport
1. Mobilize your luggage for fun and fewer steps.
2. Relax and enjoy a cookie.
3. Walk a puppet dog for amusement and the smiles of bored travelers.
5. Forget the delays. Get lost in cyberspace.
6. Stay in shape. Cartwheels use up excess energy and amuse weary passengers.
7. Sharpen your purchasing skills by swiping a leftover hotel key card in the TSA posts.
8. Do something that requires extra effort. It will make you feel better.
Refocus your mind on a puzzle or something unrelated to the trip.
Look for the Wonder
I’ve concluded that Christmas has always been about travel—even the first Noel. As you recall, Mary and Joseph packed the donkey and headed for Bethlehem. Wise Men bearing gifts crossed deserts atop camels and shepherds came from the nearby fields. Traveling the farthest was the Heavenly Infant, who choose that time to come to Earth to visit mankind. And don’t forget Santa Claus, who whizzes around in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Yes, Christmas is about travel and its unexpected occurrences.
Travel abounds with small opportunities to get into the spirit of the season. When I was on that tarmac in Charlotte, that I mentioned earlier, I was temporarily separated from the rest of my travel companions. I hurried through the rain, balancing my carry-ons, obviously looking distressed. The woman next to me grabbed my arm and said, “Here, let me help you.” And she did. I walked arm in arm into the terminal with a total stranger. She smiled and disappeared into the crowd, each of us continuing on our way.
Yes, life’s a journey, so keep moving, and when ever you have a chance, reach out and help another traveler.
