I sat down on the plane in the unfortunate middle seat, shoulder bag in my lap.
I checked: wallet, ID, credit cards, book, cell phone… all here, but I felt my heart beating faster, an anxiety rising up that I’d forgotten something.
“All by yourself, dear?” asked the older woman in the window seat.
“Yes, I’m visiting a friend for her bridal shower, and my…”
That’s it! I had not gone through an airport without carrying a child in five years. It was discombobulating.
“… my husband is at home with the children.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I’m picking up a friend for a little girl’s trip.”
“That’s lovely. Where to?”
“Italy, let me show you why.”
Out of her purse came a well-worn envelope containing photographs. She passed over one of two friends, lounging on a large rock near a clear sea.
“We went to Italy together fifty years ago. She had a baby soon after that trip and didn’t travel much anymore. We decided to travel again while we still can. Maybe take that same picture.”
“Amazing. I’ve never been on a girls’ trip. My husband and I travel a bit, but, as you said, with kids -”
“I’ve been to all but one continent — Antarctica. Though I did go on a cruise after retiring where we went around Cape Horn. I saw penguins! You?”
“Just two. We’ve traveled around the US, and we did a trip to Ireland.”
I inspected the photograph. Two women, one with blond curls contained by a scarf and bright red lipstick; one with brunette hair and giant sunglasses.In tiny bikinis, the brunette leaned onto her friend’s shoulder.
“I kissed the man that took this photo. I can’t remember his name.”
“What a life you must have lived.”
“What a life I am living, darling.”
“I’m older than you were in that photo. I doubt I’ll travel much.”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes, desperately.”
“Then go. With a kid, your best friend, your husband, take a lover, your whole book club. Go. That’s what I’m doing. Who knows, maybe I’ll see him again.”
“Did you marry?”
“Yes. A dear man who passed away. We never had children, though we tried. I have nieces and nephews. In fact, I went to New Zealand with two of my nephews who love that fantasy series with hobbits – what fun we had. I now live with a lady friend. She’s visiting her granddaughters.”
The flight, only two hours into Houston, passed quickly. When we landed, I helped her get her bag, and we walked towards arrivals. Once we were to the curb she asked, “Do you have a quarter?”
“I think so, why?”
“I’ll toss it into the Trevi fountain for you, a travel wish.”
I fished my grocery cart quarter from my bag.
“It was lovely to meet you, uh…”
“Joan dear, and you are?”
A laugh escaped my lips, “Also Joan.”
“That will make the wish stronger.”
INSTANT NOODLES 