After such an amazing start to our adventures, things only got better. With a month of great memories to share, I need to skip to the end. My conversations with God continued across one country after another, until it was time to board another plane for home.
If you haven’t flown in a while, let me warn you. Everything has changed. These days, it’s quite normal to see dogs of all types and sizes wandering the concourse. No longer in tiny little handbags waiting to be snuck on the plane, these are out-in-the-open, barking, squirming, happy dogs traveling with their anxious owners. Along with people who don’t understand what can and can’t fit under their seats, these dogs are everywhere.
To accommodate these dogs, the airlines have installed bathrooms for these pets. Our own airport did a cute design with its own fire hydrant and fake lawn. I wish I were making this up, but it’s true. The dogs have their own restrooms. therefore avoiding accidents. Each day, hundreds of happy canines serve humanity across the friendly skies.
For hours as we waited for our plane, HHH and I were pretty grumpy about the situation. Really? Thinking of our own two fur babies at home, we focused on the obvious. What about the noise, mess, and unpredictability? Safety issues? Personal space? We found hundreds of reasons to say, “Not on my plane.” And, I will admit, that was included in my conversations with Him. “Please, not today, God.”
Six long hours later, our boarding time arrived. After praying for angels to surround our plane, we took our places in two aisle seats in the back of the plane. In this plane, the seats were six across, so I had two unknowns. And, surprisingly, with the door was almost ready to close on a sold out plane, they remained empty.
Until.
Oy.
Vey.
Three beings came to join me. Two smallish humans and their Pit Bull/Aussie cross. Green-eyed, brown-nosed, just like someone else I know. THREE in a space meant for 1.5. Why did it have to be a Pit Bull anything????? Avoiding eye contact, I stood for them to enter.
Immediately, the canine moved the tiny bit to the left. With one word, the beast was at attention and sitting in the correct place between his owner’s legs. It behaved in a way that showed hours of training. And, of course, there was a very large, shock collar around its neck.
HHH gave me a few superior glances, as he had scored the great seat without Pit Bull involvement. And with that, we took off.
After about 15 minutes, everyone in row 29 had relaxed. It was then that I felt the softest sniff at my ankle. Just a little breathy “Hello”. I smiled, hoping it wasn’t the sniff before a bite. And then it happened. This soft, sweet, lovely dog draped his wonderfully comforting head across my foot, fully encroaching into my foot space. That was all it took.
We snuggled for the rest of the flight, he and I. I realized how much I missed Ollie and Tanner while experiencing the comfort of a dog snuggle. This sweet animal became my service dog for a time without ever receiving a pat on the head. He became another angel in our travel stories, and an unexpected source of grounding meant just for me. One I didn’t realize how much I needed after a very long trip.
God does have quite the sense of humor, eh? Delivering an angel in the form of a green-eyed, Pit Bull/Aussie cross, no less. What started out as an inconvenience turned into a connection.
As it turns out, there were at least two dogs on our plane. The other was a very large lab that we never saw or heard from until we left the plane. A veteran’s service dog that made everyone smile at baggage claim.
Bottom line, grace doesn’t always look holy. Angels come in all shapes and sizes. And, sometimes, their comfort comes with furry warmth draped over the feet of a newly-70 year old woman. This is going to be the best decade ever!!!!
More tomorrow.