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On July 28th I was on my way out of the Ontario, California airport, travelling to Omaha, Nebraska via SouthWest Air.
Connecting flight (no transfer) in Las Vegas, an elderly couple in their 70's sat in the two seats next to my window seat.
Intent on getting some sleep during the flight, I smiled and nodded politely as they got settled in.
I took note of the gentleman's careful concern that his wife was comfortable, did she need anything out of the bag before he put it up, ect.
The more...On July 28th I was on my way out of the Ontario, California airport, travelling to Omaha, Nebraska via SouthWest Air.
Connecting flight (no transfer) in Las Vegas, an elderly couple in their 70's sat in the two seats next to my window seat.
Intent on getting some sleep during the flight, I smiled and nodded politely as they got settled in.
I took note of the gentleman's careful concern that his wife was comfortable, did she need anything out of the bag before he put it up, ect.
There were two children, a boy and a girl, about age 10, traveling alone, seated behind us. They were strangers to each other but they made fast friends and chatted up a storm from the very beginning. I knew I wasn't going to get any actual sleep but I at least rested my eyes as we had no choice but to listen in on the kids excited conversation.
One of the children, the boy had never flown before and the girl had flown three times so of course she was the authority on the matter and the young boy was totally beside himself with excitment. They talked about everything under the sun! I thought back on those golden years, when we are young there is no need for such inhibitions, we could express our imaginations and be excited over the simplest things. I was charmed by how children interact with each other with such ease. However I was rather dismayed when they both ordered a 'coke' midway through the journey! Seriously there should be an legal drinking age for that stuff!
The elderly man turned around to look at them periodically and in good spirit he made a few jocular comments and asides about them to his wife and to the man across the isle...such as how long this flight seemed to be. At one point he asked the steward if he by any chance had a couple of small parachutes? The man across from us jokingly made the suggestion that the couple should have dinner at Chunky Cheese? We all laughed when he said to the them, "You two are just going to get in your car and sit in total silence all the way home, aren't you"?
Since the kids had kept me awake I had the chance to see and hear how the eldery pair acted towards one another as a couple. They made conversation about current events and enjoyed a smile and a laugh about the boundless chitter chatter of the kids behind us. I wondered if the lady's seat was being kicked and bumped as much as mine was? Once every so often he woud check to see if she was doing okay and she would nod and smile.
When the plane was landing, I looked over and saw that her husband had reached over and held her hand tight to comfort her.
I thought that was so very sweet, so very touching and it definately tugged at my heartstrings.
It really is the 'little things' that count.
I hope one day I too can find that special someonen who is compassionate, caring thoughtful and kind & considerate to grow old withand to be loved fiercely and for life.
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