86 Year Old

It's not often I travel from Pellston Airport.  It's a treat.  The only problem is the first flight out to Nashville is at six in the morning.  Which means leaving St. Ignace with plenty of time to get there.  (Lately, fog and frost have been something to keep an eye out for in the early morning)

This morning it was clear and cool with a little breeze from Lake Huron.  Mom and I already had our large bags in the car so we just put our carry-on in and took off for Pellston.  At 4:20 a.m.!!  No hold-ups on the bridge, no rain.  Only a few heads of deer popping up along the way to keep an eye on.  I've always said I'd rather hit a deer than a skunk any day.  But, I've never hit a deer so I can't really say I'd like the feeling of the thud of a large mammal hitting my car.  I have smelled a lot of skunks that were road kill.  I can't imagine having the smell follow me after hitting one.  I'd have to get out and walk.

I love traveling with Mom.  She opens doors in the travel world that are hard to imagine.  People smile at us a lot. The kind of smile you don't often see with travelers. She's petite, cute and looks very capable of stomping on someone's foot if they fooled with her. Many people give us plenty of space, in a polite way, when we're walking or wheeling our bags.  Doors are held open and men usually offer to lift our bags off or on the security tables.  I get to share her aura when I'm with her. (so I get the offers, too) On this trip there was a sign before security that said, "If your birthday was before 1937, you will not be required to remove your shoes to pass through security."  Mom took her shoes off anyway.  But, it was a good offer, especially if you have laces on your shoes. We used the "Family" restroom.  There was a diaper dispenser selling them for $2.00 a piece.  Mom was thinking about how she missed that opportunity to just throw away the diapers.  I'm pretty sure with ten children disposable diapers would have been quite an expense over the years.

I imagine people looking at her thinking she is a rich widow who has her own hired travel companion. Her husband was an ambassador to Russia and she's use to traveling in any kind of conditions.  Nothing shakes her composure.  She's use to traveling on crowded, cold trains for endless hours.  She's use to carrying large amounts of cash to bribe whoever she needs to get her luggage where she's going.  She's alert and aware of the people and situations around her.  Ready to grab her possessions at any moment to disembark on another route to save her husband and her life.  She trusts no one with her things.  That's why she's hired a companion who speaks five languages and is proficient in jiujitsu and weapons. (I also carry snake venom that has no anti venom. She carries two other passports besides her own if needed for an identity change.  Never does she wear a pair of shoes that she couldn't walk quickly for miles in.  She layers her clothes for the same reason.  She reminds me to be aware of all the emergency exits when we're in the terminal. Her luggage has a false bottom where she keeps several different currencies in the event she has to flee. 

Too bad there is such a strong family resemblance. Too bad I couldn't even fake knowing more languages than English.  And too bad I really wouldn't be able to defend her with jujitsu. I do make sure I treat her with respect.  Even if people do realize I'm her daughter, they'd be watching to make sure I appreciate having my mother still being alive and well.  I get reminders often of how lucky I am I can enjoy time with my mom.  Dad didn't die with the title of "Ambassador to Russia".  But, Mom does layer her clothes.  She doesn't like to get cold in those parts of the airport or plane that blows cold air on you.  She does wear sensible shoes and could walk miles if needed.   I wouldn't be surprised if she knew how to handle emergencies of any kind.  She travels light and is very alert to people and situations around her.  She even reminds me once in awhile of things I forget or let go unnoticed.  When I was making the flight plans she said, "We have to be careful not to have too close of flight connections."  She knows running from terminal to terminal to catch a flight is stressful.

Mom had another birthday and is eighty-six years old. Another adventure begins.

Singer Greeting Us at Nashville Airport

Rocking Chairs at the Nashville Airport-Very Cool