Yesterday we were making an airport run to pick up more family flying in for the funeral. The flight was delayed - of course. But, while Shawn circled the airport 372 times, I stood inside waiting on the plane to land with nothing to do but look around, stop and think. And, you know what I realized? Even when you're in a somber situation, if you look around, you can still find lots of things that make you smile. And, I won't lie, I started looking so I would have something to blog (obsessive, party of one?). But, then, looking made me notice. And noticing made me happy.
- Like the little, tiny girl running to the bathroom holding her hands between her legs "just to be safe."
- Like the camaraderie that's built between complete strangers when you're all waiting for the same late plane to land.
- Like the city's slogan plastered all over the airport: "El Paso - Do Texas Different" Ummm. That's really bad grammar, right?
Then later:
- Shawn missing the same turn three times.
- Some guy running for political office in El Paso named "Coach John John."
- Shawn's cousin David acting SHOCKED when he read the nutritional information on a bag of chips and discovered that they were bad for you.
- His cousin Amy pulling piles of the free food from the Ambassador's Club out of her purse like she was a depression-era survivor.
- Fifteen adults completely captivated by Baby Laila as she threw her stuffed animal on the ground over and over and over again (to be fetched by the aforementioned obedient adults).
- Taking pictures of each other in every imaginable permutation.
And, finally, but most importantly:
- Eight sisters who still take care of each other and still make each other laugh, even in the midst of their grief.
