Wednesday March 12, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Baby on board
As I nervously shuffled down the aisle of my second flight yesterday, trying to lift the large black suitcase I should’ve checked, my boarding pass hanging out of my mouth, I looked up towards my row to see if I could scout out the people near me and evaluate how awkward I’d be for the next two and a half hours.
There was a girl my age, maybe a year or two younger, in the outermost seat. I would be by the window. No one in the middle yet. I finally made my way back and, looking down, noticed there was someone in the seat next to me. Just hanging out. Sitting up, looking forward, clutching a banana like he’d be using it to taxi the plane to the runway.
After taking my seat and suppressing the urge to gnaw on his curiously tiny feet, he smiled with his whole face and used his sticky-from-banana hand to make sure the fabric on my right knee was denim. His mom pulled him back, but I was totally cool with it.
Against what is normal for me, I stared along with him out the window during takeoff, and had an unusually calm flight home.
Related to this post
Tweet: [Second plane. The guy in the seat next to me is a baby. A BABY. Sitting! Like an adult! But a baby!!!]
Photography: [More plane shots from Houston]
As I nervously shuffled down the aisle of my second flight yesterday, trying to lift the large black suitcase I should’ve checked, my boarding pass hanging out of my mouth, I looked up towards my row to see if I could scout out the people near me and evaluate how awkward I’d be for the next two and a half hours.
There was a girl my age, maybe a year or two younger, in the outermost seat. I would be by the window. No one in the middle yet. I finally made my way back and, looking down, noticed there was someone in the seat next to me. Just hanging out. Sitting up, looking forward, clutching a banana like he’d be using it to taxi the plane to the runway.
After taking my seat and suppressing the urge to gnaw on his curiously tiny feet, he smiled with his whole face and used his sticky-from-banana hand to make sure the fabric on my right knee was denim. His mom pulled him back, but I was totally cool with it.
Against what is normal for me, I stared along with him out the window during takeoff, and had an unusually calm flight home.
Related to this post
Tweet: [Second plane. The guy in the seat next to me is a baby. A BABY. Sitting! Like an adult! But a baby!!!]
Photography: [More plane shots from Houston]
SO CUTE!
Small children with innocent faces none-the-wiser about the things we fear can really change our outlooks on situations. I don’t know that I would have had the same initial reaction you did about the sticky-gooey hand on my jeans, but I think I would have relaxed too.
Glad you had a wonderful flight home! :-)
P.S. I love the Twitter idea. I feel like the post has…I don’t know…texture?
Clicking on the tweet you linked to kind of gave me chills. You sort of read blogs from a distance, but I feel like I’m right there with you. Submerged in the memory.
Anyway, I love it!
*Hoping to sit next to a baby passenger on Friday morning*.
The only baby I’ve encountered on an airplane was not a very chill baby. You get all the luck.
I hate flying, but sitting next to a cool little baby would make me smile.
I know about a dozen airlines that would pay big money for Picture No. 3.
That baby is sitting in its own seat?
Adorable, but sounds a bit unsafe.
Was he noisy? My only experience with babies on a plane is hearing them cry and cry. It’s usually because their ears are popping.
Good to know you had a safe flight, flying is great when it isn’t too long of a distance.
I love it when babies are in that very serious stage. When we go out, they always lock eyes with The Wookiee and stare. I presume they’re all measuring his height and resolving, “One day I too shall reach 6′3″.” The itty bitty girls don’t know how much trouble this is going to make for them…
Eric – I was in a surprisingly peaceful mood, otherwise I probably would’ve winced or something when the hand moved towards me. Must’ve been the drugs.
Emma – He won’t be as cool as MY BABY!
Alicia – Chill was definitely the perfect word.
Andrea – Me too. Hopefully I’ll be a little better from now on.
Uncle Crappy – Hey thanks! I sort of wished I brought the D50 on the plane, but the iPhone didn’t do nearly as badly as I expected.
Arielle – His mom held him during takeoff and landing, so it wasn’t bad.
Jake – No! Not at all! He was awesome!
Robin G. – lol!
I love the picture of the sky and the airplane. :)
I’ve been reading for a really long time…
This website really, truly makes me happy, and never fails to keep me interested. I can’t wait until you publish your first book.
I just thought I’d let you know.
The baby has his own seat? High rollin’!