Ever sense I was around six years old, I have found myself flying from Seattle to San Fransisco at most twice a month. In the beginning I flew with my older-than-me-by-three-years brother, but he moved down to live with our dad, as that is who in is California, so I from then on flew alone. Most people gasp or are shocked when they find out, but to me it was so natural. It was all part of my life. Even now looking back on it I can't find why it was such a big deal, to fly alone.

But yesterday, as I was sitting in the airport waiting to board my plane, I saw mother on her knees hugging a little girl goodbye. The mother was trying to be strong for her little girl, telling her that her dad would be on the other side waiting and that she was going to have fun. And the little girl was trying to be strong for her mom, telling her mom that she knew and that she was exited. Both were willing to believe the other and both had fear reflected in their eyes.

I realised that at that moment I wanted to be going on that airplane with that little girl, to sit next to her and give her someone with a friendly face that was wiling to sit and talk or play with her. But the longer I thought about it I realized that the reason I was okay with flying alone for all those years, wasn't because I was just used to it, but that part of me was stronger from it.

I then, belatedly, realized that I was standing in the middle of the hallway staring at them. I blushed and quickly headed back on my own course, and left them to theirs.

Cheers to airplanes
Cheers to nice people who sit on them
Cheers to visiting ones dad
Cheers to moms trying to be strong
Cheers to being able to blush
and Cheers to realizing that even if thing weren't the best, they are apart of who you are.