The Pianist
We’ve all been stuck at the airport. I’ve had my fair share of unforgettable experiences. I’ve spent the night at Rome’s airport, wearing sweats over my jeans to stay warm. I slept in an armchair at Singapore’s Changi. I’ve been sent to hotels while in Chicago, Tokyo, and Miami because of cancellations. And I’ve spent hours in airports waiting, standing in line, watching the monitors and paying for wifi. I even wrote a fake survival guide to living in the Charles de Gaulle airport, here. My point is, I’m used to it.
When in Rome...
Most of this has happened alone though.
On Boxing Day, Lea, Oliver and I made the journey back to Indianapolis from Las Vegas. Man, does traveling change with a 15 month old. We left Las Vegas and made the four hour trip to Charlotte. The US Airways staff were so helpful to us. Everyone fears a baby on a long flight.We all made it. The hard part was over.
But it wasn’t. Delay. Long delay.
We were hungry. So we decided to eat. We got ice cream as a treat. We walked around. It got old fast.
Our son Oliver is obsessed with walking around. He’s masterful at cutting people off. He has no regard for beeping golf carts. He’s especially fond of people movers. He’s a skilled zig zagger. Lea and I took shifts. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. It was a never ending relay race. And honestly, him standing in the middle of the people mover blocking people late for flights, kind of gets old.
I’ve had some exhausting travel experiences – 36 hour trips, four flights in a day, days stuck in an airport, emergency landings, etc., but I must say, this delay was getting to me. I was stressed, tired, and desperate to get my family home. And of course I wasn’t exactly the best company. I decided to give Lea a break (mostly from me). Oliver and I headed towards the magical land of people movers, rocking chairs (yes they have them at CLT) and a giant airplane mobile. He smile was massive.
We found all of these things. And a piano. Someone was playing.
I picked up O and walked over. It was classical music. And really good classical music – like a savant was playing.
It was a teenager playing, part of a nuclear family of 5. He played most of the music. His sister jumped in from time to time. The younger brother did a clarinet solo. The parents looked on as they played piece after piece with immense pride. I wanted to call my sister and ask her what the pieces were. I thought it was Chopin. I was probably wrong. But I do know this was of a very high caliber. So did everyone else.
This kid was incredible
This family had the entire airport mesmerized. Everyone that passed stopped to soak it in. I stood there holding Oliver for twenty minutes. Oliver couldn’t believe the way this kid used the keys. Neither could I. We put money in their tip jar after every song. Other desperate parents brought their kids up for some respite. It was the most beautiful scene I’ve ever experienced at an airport.
I returned to Lea in a decidedly better mood and renewed spirit. We managed to get on another flight to IND.
Life was good. Life was beautiful. And Oliver enjoyed the flight home.
