2019-2020 Trip 1st installment: Children

     The 7 year old leaned over his mother's middle seat while she was gone to the restroom: "Hi, what's your name?" "Karen," I replied, "What's yours?" "Abhi," he said. He turned back to his movie for a moment and then leaned over again and said, "I think we are going to be good friends."
     We were together on the 13 1/2 hour flight from Singapore to Seattle. Abhi had slept well for a couple hours and was now on his second wind. 
     He asked his mother to get him some snacks, which she did, bringing some  for him to share with his sister. He laid them out on his tray table, and leaned over his mother, now seated. "Hey, Karen, would you like a snack?" I said, "I'm not hungry right now." He asked, "If you were hungry, which of these would you like?" I looked at the options and pointed one out. He put it aside...and for the next hour or so, would glance over every 15 minutes and hold up the snack, offering it. I finally ate it.
     After his sister, Angelee, 9, woke up from her nap, Abhi changed seats with her and was across the aisle with his father. Angelee and I had a conversation---
I noticed she had freshly painted fingernail polish on beautiful hands. I said to her, "You have really pretty hands and long fingers. Do you play the piano?" Her face lit up and she said, "Yes, and my mommy plays the drums, Abhi plays the guitar and my father plays the keyboard and guitar. We all play in the worship band at our church." Then she said, "No one has ever told me I have long fingers!" We talked about music for a bit, and then Angelee said, "I really want to be a doctor when I grow up, or …" and she listed several other options. "I just don't know yet!" 
    I spoke to Angelee's mom: "Does that mean you are Christians?"  "Yes," was her reply. They are from a land that is predominantly Hindu. They have lived in the U.S. for 12 years. We spoke for awhile about the scripture, about Jesus, and other issues. We even spoke about women in church leadership. We didn't agree on some topics, but we enjoyed the exchange. 
     Before we landed, she gave me her contact information, because they come to Seattle periodically and I go to Portland from time to time.
     New friends...I think Abhi was right: we're going to be good friends.