Dear grandparents on Midwest Connect flight 1:20 to Milwaukee,

Thank you grandma with the long hair who looked like my friend Michelle and had her same joyful spirit. Thank you for talking with my daughter and playing ball with my son and chugging around the gate like a train during our five hour delay.

Thank you grandma with the rubber chicken. Yes, I said a rubber chicken, and for pulling it out of your backpack and having it talk to my son. Thank you for being so pleased when he investigated the blooms on your plant and carefully tore them apart and put them in the cup you offered him as well while I got more ice to put on my back.

Thank you grandpa for pulling out your guitar and playing “Old McDonald” and “Waltzing with Bears” and inviting us to come visit your seats please when we finally got on the plane.

Thank you grandpa with the old navy tattoos on your forearms for letting my son direct your every move—pull the shade up, pull the shade down, pull the shade up, pull the shade down.

Thank you grandpa with your laptop open trying to get some work done while my son stood in the aisle directing the shade up, the shade down, for saying you didn’t mind a bit, you wish you could play too.

Thank you grandma flight attendant for wearing pictures of your grandkids on your nametag and never in word or look showing that you minded us forever in the aisle.

Thank you grandpa who played ball with my son. Yes, my son sat down in the aisle (after all the carts, etc.) and threw the small beach ball to you, and you threw it back.

And the rest of you who grinned as we walked the aisle over and over, who told me stories about your grandchildren and your days traveling with small children, who mentioned what hard work I was doing, thank you. You made it easier.