Grandchildren make the trials of traveling worthwhile

It’s around this time of the year that folks start heading to warmer climates. Thousands who have lost their minds over the thought of cold temperatures take off for places like the Southwest, specifically Arizona, or the Southeast, such as Florida. Now Florida is known for its paradise-like lifestyle. It has those balmy breezes, the swells of the ocean, palm trees and drivers going the speed limit of the grand marshal of the Rose Bowl Parade. It takes awhile to get nowhere.

Most folks who head down to Florida find themselves enjoying wearing white belts and white shoes, known as the Full Cleveland look. It puts their minds at ease, just thinking of escaping the horrible weather back home. It gives them more time to then step over alligators in the driveway, ward off snakes lurking around the sidewalk and hit rats the size of a Buick outside their front door with their golf clubs.

Now I’m all for heading south. Last year I went down to Florida in January for a brief respite. I flew into Orlando airport. Now Orlando is the jumping-off point for Disney World. Disney World is a kingdom run by mice, specifically Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Children love this kingdom. They really enjoy seeing their parents spin around in those tea cups and then spend the rest of the afternoon vomiting. Children will take away lessons from Disney World that they will remember well into their adult lives, specifically the lyrics to “It’s a Small World.” Even if you are in your 90s, you will still remember those lyrics running through your head over and over again.

The flight down was pretty turbulent; hey, it’s a lesson for a lot of passengers who don’t have their false teeth clearly cemented in, so the ceiling of the 747 becomes like a magnet. Myself, I like the comfort of turbulence when I fly; it means there is air under the plane, which at this point in aviation history is huge!

There is no doubt that traveling is difficult and frustrating today. Many passengers debark wearing someone else’s shoes. Who can tell where your stuff is after the security check? When the pilot gets off with shoes that clearly belong to another passenger, that’s when I’m concerned. But it’s too late to worry about him wearing someone’s stilettos. Just be glad you made it.

At Orlando and many other airports, I take a small train to another part of the airport to pick up my luggage. It’s not that I know that is where to go, it’s just that airports are like a meadow where sheep gather and when one of the herd starts to move, the rest of the herd follows.

I am standing next to a woman from Canada who is sobbing because she is supposed to be in Texas. Just follow me, I tell her, and it seems to have a calming effect.

An announcement screams that a stop is coming up and for passengers to get off if you are going to the letter A. No one knows anything about an alphabet stop. Everyone hesitates, but one sheep moves forward, and we all do, since our hands and clothes are caught in the door anyway.

The herd starts to stampede when they see the sign for baggage claim. It turns out whenever this sign appears there is either panic or a line will automatically start to form.

The herd moves in a solid mass and then we stare. This is called waiting for your luggage, while you watch unclaimed suitcases that have been on the carousel since Dewey beat Truman spin around and around. The woman from Canada bolts for a line boarding for Germany. She is wearing men’s fishing boots.

We take this journey and all that comes with it because waiting outside the doors is our youngest grandchild; she is 5 years old and wearing every item from the movie “Frozen,” and gold Mary Jane shoes.

Honestly, any grandparent would grow their own wings to fly down for this reunion. The skies are still friendly and warm.