Day Fourteen Hundred and Thirty-Two

The Flight Attendant, to the Rescue!

I shoulda charged everyone watching me, a fee yesterday.

I was a walking one-woman circus.

I probably could've actually made decent money...if I hadn't finally gotten some help from a few lifesavers. Otherwise, all the other onlookers snarking at my obvious troubles...50 bucks each, unloving meanieheads (I had worse names for them, but that's not polite to say out loud). 

Two suitcases, a stroller, a car seat, a diaper bag, and a baby strapped on my chest...in 100 degree Fort Lauderdale heat. A car rental return gone awry. A shuttle bus refusing to drop me off Southwest curbside. A horrible trek to the ticket counter after a broken elevator. That was just the beginning. I had to change my tshirt because I pitted out so badly that I looked (and smelled) like I had just finished a marathon in it. We finally got onto the plane and not 3 minutes before take off, Amelia EXPLODES with poop as much as on my brother's wedding day. Poop EVERYWHERE. On her. On me. On the carrier. On the dude sitting next to me. She ends up pooping three times on a two and a half hour flight. We land and my taxi driver WATCHES my circus act of six travel items waddle over to his car and then charges me 45$ for a 20 minute ride to the team hotel. Where's Uber when you need it?!

All that to say...yesterday was the worst travel day we've experienced by far. Like, not even comparable to the time I left 100 rounds of ammo in my carry on bag. BUT even on the very worst of days - when cursing and throwing a fit does nothing more than just make you angrier and more frustrated - people like the woman above (and the guy sitting next to me, handing me wipes and playing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on his iPad for Amelia) recue you in your pity party and prove that there is so much to smile about. I've met some incredible people on the many flights we've taken all over the country, and she was one who left a lasting mark. She took Amelia right into her arms and helped me when I needed it most (someone had to clean up the poop!) - and brought the joy back to my day that I had lost from the get go. And then...for just a bit more perspective and humility, the woman on the aisle row bends toward me and says, "That little baby is sure lucky to have you as her mother. I was watching you in the airport and I could just tell how calm and loving you are toward her. And she's such a good baby because of it. The happiest one I've seen." Ok guys, like, for real? To hear those words and to feel the love pouring out over me as I struggled through what seemed to be the impossible day - I am so grateful. Sometimes it's easy for me to get cynical about this world. I have a lot to say about the current state of our nation, but yesterday brought with it hope that I hadn't felt in people for quite a long time. Though everyone else just stood and watched while I fumbled over and over again, three heroes came to my rescue because yes, kindhearted, good, and genuine people are everywhere.  

Oh, and...we're finally in St. Louis now! Yahoo!