Let’s talk about Kanga and her perfect trip…
Natty B and I are on a two-week trip to Arizona, and our first leg, Albany-Charlotte NC, was pretty jam-packed. A large number of the passengers were little kids, infant to 5 or so, and passengers of a certain age were dour, dismissive, or downright hostile to the young parents. I always want balloon-animal balloons to help parents get through their trips, but stranger-danger education generally limits my response to griefing the people who would grief YPs. It is more satisfying than the actual destination. A perfect trip, hike, camp, flight, or spa, is a string of occurrences that may or may not be perfect in and of themselves.
So, Kanga (not her real name) boards right after us with Chris, Pooh, Piglet, and Roo (not their names, either) towards row 22 of a full flight. Kids are aged 5 down to .5 years, and their father who shall remain nameless because they left Kanga to sit elsewhere, apparently (I’m sure they are nice folks…} are as well-mannered as you would expect for first time flyers with one caregiver. Planes are new, noisy, scary places full of nooks and crannies, and the kiddos were open and engaged with all of it. While Kanga, amazing woman, got them organized and Roo fed, her seatmate, whom we’ll call Ursula, let her know with sniffs and arch dismissiveness that SHE was not amused. Kanga has been apologetic and self-effacing while we roll back but decides to switch seats with Chris so Ursula will stop nudging her. When the child asks why they have to move, Kanga, spirited Kanga, explains that that lady (Ursula) doesn’t want to sit next to an infant… Good for her! Chris spends most of the flight, I imagine, giving Ursula the side eye.
What am I on about? In her plans for the least-disastrous trip, Kanga would never have chosen these circumstances but handled all the juggling with harried grace and class, MAKING a better trip for her brood than they might have had with a less sublime parent. On landing, I gave her my card, thanked her for her efforts, and resolved to give them an outing if it’s ever in my power. Step One? Writing about it here with permission.
That is a glimpse into a short-term moment in what for us is becoming a bit of an ordeal but will not put us off from planning and embarking on other adventures. Nine days of trip to go, 5 aborted flights and connections down, zigzagging to Arizona or somewhere. Doing what Kanga does.
More later,
Ed
ephemeradk.com
