next thing I know we were chatting it up like old buddies. She was telling me about her daughter and how she was going to visit her after a layover in Phoenix and I was telling her about my Dad and my Mom.
This was all a long time ago so I don’t specifically remember the little things, like what she looked like or her name. I do remember though, that I told her why I was crying and why I was even remotely sad in the first place. She was really understanding and she never asked for more information than I was willing to give. Then when things got awkward she asked about my hobbies and what I liked to do and, at that time, I was really interesting in art and drawing. So, she showed me how to draw a girl in this way that I never really thought of doing before then.
She was just an overall really nice and sweet lady who cheered me up on a plane ride that lasted about four hours. We talked all through the flight and by the time we landed I wasn’t even sad anymore. The best thing about that entire flight and conversation was what she told me when our plane landed. As an unaccompanied minor I had to be the last person to get off the plane but and she needed to catch her connecting flight, so we needed to say our goodbyes and separate. She stayed a bit longer than I expected her to and when she finally had to go she turned to face me in her seat and she told me, “Rose, you are a great kid and I know that things will turn out well for you. You’re going to go far, so never doubt yourself.”
After that she left and I can honestly say that I never say her again . I think it’s
better that way, meeting her was special and I know that I’ll never forget it but some things are only meant to last a moment and I believe this was one of those things. It was just a perfect example of how people can make meaningful connections over the smallest of things, even a little girl crying on an airplane.