I sat in Gate B looking at the people taking their seats
around me, waiting for the call to board. There is a single carry-on seated at
my feet, stuffed with snacks, a book (a book! with real pages!) and various
other in-flight necessities. I wonder, “What is it with people and congregating
around the gate podium before boarding? I notice a man standing there, grasping
his boarding pass, a pass that clearly displays Zone 6 and I’m fairly certain
they’re still boarding the privileged first class suits.
I have a LOST moment as I glance from face to face wondering
if these would be the last faces I saw should the plane fall from the sky in a
ball of fire and metal shards. Morbid? Indeed but the truth is, I hate flying.
The only thing I hate more than flying is dentists. Nothing personal, really. I
don’t hate the person so much as the experience of having someone poke around
in my mouth with sharp primitive-like tools. But flying? I’d rather not,
especially since I had my two boys.
I hate flying so much that I woke up at 4am and drove two
hours to an airport just so that I could fly direct to my destination. After
all, I once heard that the majority of plane crashes occur on taking off and
landing. For me, the least amount of times I could do either of those things
and arrive at my destination seemed the only way to go. A 4am wake-up call and
two hour drive north was nothing if it lessened my chances of hurtling towards
the ground as gravity ripped my limbs from my body.
I hardly slept last night. Between the anticipation of
travel and having to pump and feed the baby once or twice, I think I managed
only two or three hours of really good REM. I kissed the foreheads of all three
of my boys before I left this morning. The toddler and my husband both sweaty
as they slept and the baby, curled up next to my husband, whimpered as he opened
his eyes to see me leaving.
I know the boys will do just fine without me while I’m gone.
After all, I called in the reinforcements of my parents and I’m confident they
know better than to tell me if anything goes awry while I’m away. They’ll send
me happy text messages and pictures of the boys and it won’t be until I’m
safely back home with them that they’ll fill me in on any mishaps or blunders
along the way. They know me too well.
I know they’ll all be just fine. After all, I left them
meticulously detailed schedules taped to the fridge and even labeled sock
drawers and pajamas drawers and left notes around the house where they could
find certain beloved things like blankets and favorite puzzles. Of course I
also picked up a few new toys for the boys to open each day that I’m away,
hopefully distracting them from not only my absence but also from terrorizing
the house, a skill they have mastered impeccably well.
It makes me nauseous, leaving them but I know it’s a
necessary thing and good for everyone involved. They need to realize how
awesome of a parent their Dad is (who knew he could pour milk and make
scrambled eggs too?) and I need a few days away to remember what it’s like to
not be just Mom all day every day.
It’s a strange thing, this being excited to spend a long
weekend away with your Internet friends. To spend hours learning the in’s and
out’s of creating a brand, sharing your story, remaining authentic. It’s something only bloggers (and, on a good
day, their significant others) could understand. For lack of a better word,
it’s truly awesome.
I’m sitting here in seat 12C writing this with the hum of
the engine turbines in my ears and a dull drone of conversation reverberating around
me. No one wants anything from me. Not a drink, not a snack, not to watch a
Thomas “moobie” with the “remope.” It’s as uncomfortable as it is nice. I sure
do miss that soft little toddler voice stumbling over the “V” consonant sound
and watching the baby’s head pop up again and again as he pulls himself up to
stand at the couch where the toddler is vrooming his trains. I like this kind
of quiet but it only makes me miss them more.
I know once my feet
hit the ground in Dallas I will be busy. So busy greeting old and new friends,
networking, laughing, story-telling and maybe for a minute I will forget about
that which I left back home.
Until then, however, I’ll occasionally dip my hand into that
single carry-on that sits at my feet, my fingers searching for and finding the
softness of a little boy’s lovie that each time I rub its spit-stiffened
corners between my fingers, I am reminded of what, more importantly who, is
waiting for me back home.
Just precious. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteI flew to Chicago for work last week and have flown a few times without Tommy, and like you, dread it. But it's amazing what a good night's sleep will do to recharge a mommy brain. Enjoy your me time!
ReplyDeleteYou're making me miss my little guy who is upstairs sound asleep in his crib!
ReplyDeleteThey'll do fine without you and you'll be back home soon enough :)
I am sure they will enjoy their daddy and grandparent time and you will have a blast! I cannot quite make myself leave my cherub yet! May e it's mom guilt for working out of the home or the fact that she is so stranger danger with everyone but me but it breaks my heart thinking about it! Please tell me how your trip went so I can I loosen my strings some;)
ReplyDeleteso sweet! i hate flying too.. i'll be headed down to Jamaica (woohoo!) in three weeks sans baby. which gives me major anxiety, both about flying and about leaving my sweet baby.
ReplyDeletecheers! and, yes, i'm that crazy woman downing wine at the airport at 6am ;)
I'm with you and I used to fly for work. I am basically a stressed out mess the whole flight.
ReplyDeleteand that last bit...oh I'm practically in tears.
I hope you're having so much fun right now.
Well shoot. I was ok till that last line. Now, I"m crying. I know you're having so much fun. The hardest part is the goodbye and the boarding (what am I talking about...I've YET to leave Easton overnight!!!)---the fun awaits...and the boys will greet you with wide open arms on Sunday! Have so much fun girl! You deserve it!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis post is so well written--i just love it! I am leaving in a month for a weekend away, and I am tearing up picturing being in your shoes. It's so hard and so easy to leave all at the same time, right? Have SO MUCH FUN--you beyond deserve it ;)
ReplyDeleteYep. Laughed and cried. This might just be my favorite post of yours. Sigh. It's so well written that I actaully miss Carter and sweetbabymac, myself. Have fun momma and welcome to Texas for a long weekend!
ReplyDeleteThis all sounds so familiar! Ha! Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteI am a severe fear of flying. So much so that I rarely do it unless forced and even then, I hyperventilate and usually scare the people next to me during take off. I basically think I'm going to die every time I get on a plane.
ReplyDeleteBut my husband and I just flew to Colorado for our first trip alone since having kids 4.5 years ago. It was the BEST decision we made. I missed my boys so so so much. But it made me appreciate what I have much more.
Have fun! Wish I were there.
One of your best pieces!!!
ReplyDelete