Thursday's Thought

After several lovely days on the beach with family, the babe and I departed yesterday for our annual visit to my favorite city in the world for the Big East Basketball tournament. The thought of flying solo with a newly two year old gave me some apprehension, but I was prepared with a bag of tricks and the ardent hope that her sweet disposition and my careful planning would thwart any drama.

My hopes were realized - in no small part thanks to the goodness of our fellow passengers. In the security line, a kind soul retrieved my hat that my hat had fallen from my purse unknowingly as I hoisted our bags onto the screening belt. Another sweet gentleman alerted me that the babe had escaped under the security table while I was pulling out our boarding passes. Yet another stranger lifted our bags into the overhead bins while I settled her into her seat on the plane. 

Our flight went well until the plane began descending, at which point my sweet girl became sick...again...and again...and again. Because of safety protocols, no flight attendant could come to our rescue, but our seat neighbor immediately leapt into action, providing an additional flight sickness bag at a critical moment and helping me clean our seats. When we arrived, another fellow passenger helped pull our bag down from the overhead bin while I continued to clean and comfort an ill and unsettled babe.

She and I navigated our way through the airport and crawled into a taxicab. Much to my dismay, moments after pulling out of the airport, it happened again. But rather than being upset, our driver produced paper towels and a bag along with his sympathy. When we finally arrived at the hotel, my parents greeted us at the curb with a bottle of water and a roll of paper towels to help the driver clean his car. As we pulled a sleepy babe out into the fresh air, I reflected on the goodness we had benefited from at the hands of an assortment of strangers who crossed our paths at just the right moment.

"Goodness" may seem a nebulous concept, but you know when you have been its beneficiary. Have you been on the receiving end of goodness? How can you pay it forward?

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