NSJ

It is impossible to spend more than ten minutes in a major airport like Chicago’s O’hare without overhearing some variation on a story that goes something like, “and to top it off there was a baby on the plane that screamed the entire flight.” When watching the faces of those listening to the story, I typically can classify the reactions into two major groups. The first group react with an annoyed look that says “I’m so sorry you had to endure that horrible experience, why the hell do people have kids anyway? And when they do why don’t they lock them in the closet?” The second group react with a empathetic look that says something more like, “oh yeah, my kid has totally done that. That is nothing. Did the baby poop all over the seat? Come back and complain when a screaming baby poops on you.” [1]

With that in mind, I put Jul and Mart on a plane with Sumo and Nicholas this afternoon. Nicholas is heading out to see what my wife calls “the right coast.” [2] When checking Jul in at the airport with Niko and Sumo the airline agent looked at her with a, “wow you are totally insane” look, quickly followed by a look in my direction that said “and you must be the useless husband who isn’t traveling with her.”

I’ll join them in CT this weekend to make sure Nicholas and Sumo don’t forget who I am. I need to head back to CA for work next week at which point Jul, Grandma Mart, Nicholas, and Sumo are going to drive to Michigan so Nicholas can meet his Great Grandma Louise (who is, after all, a movie star). I’ll join them in Michigan the following weekend and fly back with Jul, Nicholas, and Sumo. Kind of makes me tired just writing about it.

Here is how it all breaks down.

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[1] I tend to fit into a third category that react with a lost look that says “I was just working here on my laptop…did you say something?”

[2] I’ve always thought she meant “right” as opposed to “left” but I’m beginning to think that might not be what she is implying. (I’ve never been accused of being quick on the uptake.)