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July 30, 2007
Christmas In July
As we enter the Denver International Airport, Jennifer turns to me and asks “What animal are we flying on?”
All of the Frontier Airlines planes have a different animal painted on their rudders. But we’re not flying Frontier. We’re flying US Air.
“These planes don’t have animals painted on them.” I explain.
“Oh.”
We walk into the elevator at the airport and I reach for the button.
“Lemme push it. Lemme push it.”
It’s then that it hits me. This person that I’m about to drag halfway across the planet is just a child. While I have no doubt that she will enjoy Paris and Dublin, I can’t help but wonder if she wouldn’t be just as happy to stay in a hotel in Lakewood and play in the elevator all day.
“Look how long all the lines are, daddy.”
“We don’t have to stand in those lines, baby.”
“Why not?”
“Cuz lines are for suckers.”
Inside the men’s room, I heard some man complaining aloud.
“I can’t believe it. They let me fly all the way here with her, and now they won’t let me take her on the plane. God I hate United.”
Now, we all hate United. That’s something all life forms can agree on. But why wouldn’t they let him take her on the plane? And who was she? Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was taking Jennifer out of the country, without so much as a note from Michelle. I began to panic.
“And she’s in such a good mood. She’s been singing all morning.”
I’m thinking….that would be kind of annoying. I hope there’s not going to be any girls singing on my plane.
Then, I see the man has a small wooden box with some screen on the top and a bird of some sort inside it. So that’s what he’s complaining about. They won’t let him take his bird on the plane. Poor sucker.
Once the plane was airborne, Jennifer turns to me and says “OK. Can I have my toy now? Huh? Kan-eye????Huh??”
“Who said it was a toy? I said I got you a present.”
“Can I have it now, can I? Huh?”
“OK, baby. Here it is. Happy nine-and-a-half birthday.”
And I hand her a pink Nintendo DS.
“Cool! A Nintendo!”
Apparently, she knew what it was cuz one of her girlfriends had one and everyone within about five rows cranes to admire the new toy. I don’t buy her a lot of things. I hate to shop. But I wanted to get something for her to make the horrendously long flight pass a little faster, and it’s a great feeling to see her eyes light up that way. I’m in 5A and she’s in 5B and suddenly it’s Christmas in July.
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Posted by Rob Kiser on July 30, 2007 at 06:00 PM
Comments
Hi sweetie! Hope you made it to Ireland ok. Did you get to eat on the plane? How is your new Nintendo. I bet that is fun. Did you get to sleep on the plane? We are fine. Slinky says Hi!
Posted by: Michelle on July 31, 2007 at 10:30 AM