When we arrived at the Long Beach airport in May for our family’s Disneyland vacation, our plane had to sit on the runway for an hour and a half waiting for one of the three parking spots to open up so we could exit the vehichle. We were cramped, hot, annoyed and tired by the time we made our way down the ramp and picked up our luggage.
I called the airport shuttle we’d booked and paid for and was told that they’d given our van away to someone else because our flight status had said “ARRIVED” for the past two hours and they assumed we’d made other arrangements. No we had not. It was 11pm, we were exhausted, out $50 and stranded at the Long Beach Airport.
I’m not ashamed to say that a few choice words and a few tears escaped my face before I calmed down and we decided to head over and pay another $50 for a cab to the hotel. At that time of night in that dust speck of an airport, cabs arrived about every 10 minutes and we stood in a line waiting our turn and whining to anyone who would listen.
The senior couple ahead of us in line took pity on our small pathetic band of sticky travelers and offered us their cab. The woman was so very kind and I was so very done that I didn’t even fight her. I didn’t say, “You’re old and you were here first and you’re probably on the verge of an arthritic fit. You take the cab and we’ll wait a few more minutes for our chariot to Mickeyville.” All I could say was, “Thank you,” as we slipped into the grimy leather seats and headed off, my arms serving as human carseats. Both kids fell asleep as we sped along.
Then yesterday, a month after our trip, I walked into the kids’ bedroom and found Laylee standing upright, staring straight ahead with a strange expression on her face. Noticing me, she looked up and said, “Oh mom. I had to stop cleaning. I was just thinking about that lady who gave us her taxi at Disneyland and I was so happy because we got to drive there and so sad because she’s still there waiting and my eyes are red like I’m gonna cry but my mouth can’t stop smiling. I’m just so medium right now, I don’t know if I’m happy or sad.”
Maybe I should tell her that it’s likely the lady is not still stranded on the curb of the airport. But maybe not. It makes a better story that way. So much more medium.
That is so sweet – I love the “I’m just so medium right now.” What a great description!
That is so cute!! I love how kids are so preceptive. Mine constantly surprise me by commenting on things I didn’t think they’d noticed.
She is so sweet. That made me want to cry!
That is so sweet that she would even give them another thought!
Being “just so medium” is often a place that I find myself – in life, in the family and mostly spiritually. I cry when I think about my life before and what Jesus did to save me, yet I have unbelievable joy that it happened. It’s always a toss up as to which response you’ll get from me when asked about it. Sometimes is a heartfelt cry of joy which confuses things even further.
Your Laylee is one special, thoughtful girl. She’s going to have a lifetime of mediums to look forward to having.
Aw, what an empathetic girl you are raising.
I’m so sad that you are there right now and that I’m here…my eyes feel red like I’m going to cry, but I can’t stop smiling at the memories that have been burned in my mind by the mother of all vacations…
Oh, how cute! And how sweet that she is still concerned about that kind woman.
🙂 Becky
http://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/
It always amazes me, what makes an impact on our children. That was precious. Lovely memories of a stranger’s kindness.
Laylee is such a sweetheart!
She reminds me of my own little boy, who is always concerned about other people. It was SO nice of that lady to see your need and help you out. People should do that more often.
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What a cutie! Medium!
Poor little girl. I hope that she knows that the sweet old lady isn’t still standing there, waiting for one last cab.
Traveling with kids can be miserable if anything goes wrong (not to mention multiple things). It’s hard to keep a positive attitude–which is why we try to vacation in town! Way to have a sweet little girl, though. I don’t think kids learn to be perceptive like that without seeing it from their parents.
The fact that it made an impression on her makes me want to do something nice for strangers. You never know what little kid is going to notice. I already let single people with just a few items go ahead of us in line (especially at Target!) unless my kids are melting down, which is rare. But when I do that I’m thinking I’m setting an example for my children. Now I’m going to be thinking about the kid one aisle over who is bored and watching us.
It’s good to have other mamas’ backs like that. Just thinking about the next person I can ambush with kindness is making me smile.