Christmas Spirit

More Christmas spirit being spread across the country?

??Few years ago on the evening of December 21st, a young man in his 20s toting an acoustic guitar entered my Barbie-sized jet. Why he was traveling from Chicago to Akron that night wasn’t on my mind; instead, my first thought was, “It’s almost a full flight and now I have to try to secure a guitar in the cabin?!”

?After a little creativity involving seatbelt extensions, the young man and his guitar were finally settled in the first row of first class. All is well, I told myself, and I can now tell the captain that my cabin is secure with all bags stowed and all passengers (and instruments) seated with seatbelts fastened.

?Every time I walked past the young man, he would put his hands together and thank me for helping him. After the third time he thanked me, I said, “It’s my job.”

?“But being so kind isn’t,” was his sweet response.

?I had a few spare minutes at one point, and being a mom, I shared how he reminded me of my son, and how my son is self-taught and plays bass and banjo. I almost couldn’t hold back my emotions when he asked how long it has been since I’ve seen him. OMG, I wanted to scream about how much I miss my kids, and I fought back tears as I told him that it’s been over a year, he’s in Portland, Oregon, and I live in Colorado but work out of Newark.

?I then asked about his journey to Akron, and he shared his story about the long day’s journey he’d had, starting early that morning in Hawaii, connecting through Denver, onto Chicago, to hopefully end up in his small hometown outside of Akron. He was traveling to see his mom for the first time since he moved to Hawaii a few years ago. It would also be his last time seeing her; she’s been sick and only has a few days, so the entire family is coming together to share her last Christmas. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen and worried he may not be able to see his mom due to COVID. I wanted so badly to assure him, “everything is going to be all right.” But I couldn’t lie; I don’t know what will happen.

?Last thing he said to me as he handed me a paper rose made from the United Airlines napkin was, “I hope you get to see your son soon and wish he could come out to Hawaii and play music sometime.”?

?This young man truly made me see a person… and not just another passenger whose journey with me ends once I open that door. He represents the light—and the music—in all of us.?

?Merry Christmas,

Rose