Boy Saves Nervous Nelly

I wish I'd had a chance to take a picture of the lovely little boy who made me suddenly happy and comfortable with flying off to the other side of the world from what I've always called home. Instead I found a similar face online that will probably make you smile like I did.

I had already been seated on the aisle of our Boeing 777 and was suddenly feeling spectacularly nervous and apprehensive about heading directly out of my comfort zone when I found myself face-to-face with a little guy with a smile like this. I smiled back and he said, "Hi!"

I answered "Hi" back and we entered a short conversation about if this was his first flight. I would guess his age to have been six or seven. The line of people moved on up so he was tugged away by his mother but finished with "See you later!"

Here was a Chinese-American child, completely comfortable in his environment of multi-ethnic passengers, and not only unafraid of strangers but excited by the possibilities all around him. He taught an old lady a thing or two.

I turned to my daughter with tears in my eyes and said "I'm not afraid anymore."