Inspirational People

Lucy in the Sky

MamaMickTerry

Like many days before, I spent last Tuesday trudging to and through the Kansas City airport. For a variety of reasons, I was just a little bit, teeny tiny sad even though I’m always thankful to have a great job and rewarding career.

The good news is that it’s actually been a very fruitful meeting and my introvert went into hiding while I connected with several co-workers I’m proud to call dear friends. The bad news is that my boys have been in Denver playing baseball and white-water rafting without me. They are two time zones away and I won’t see them until Sunday. Even though the pictures they sent are beautiful, sights of the Dane hanging over the Royal Gorge had me a little blue…and on the verge of altitude sickness!

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I was just getting ready to drown myself in a worthless pity party when a beautiful set of sparkly eyes surrounded by a head of blonde corkscrew curls bounced up in front of me. She caught my smile and beamed one right back at me.

Like a laser.

While her mother fluttered through the airport terminal wiping germs off every surface and barking orders, this kiddo and I sat side by side and visited like old friends.

She liked my shoes. I liked her backpack. I told her she had pretty brown eyes and she said, “Yours are brown, too.”

She wanted to know why I had a tear in my ear and giggled musical notes when I told her that my daughter pulled my earring out and tore the lobe when she was just a baby.

“What’s your name?”

“Lucy!” she exclaimed. “I’m going to be 10 on Saturday!”

“Oh, Lucy! What a perfect name for you.”

“Which row are you? I want to sit by you.”

I couldn’t drag myself away from her kaleidoscope eyes and my heart swelled when she nestled up under my chin to look at my wedding ring and play with my necklace.

Lucy in the sky with diamonds…

The Beatles’ song was recorded the year and month I was born. I grew up appreciating it for the innocent story and not the innuendos I would learn about much later. I’ve loved the tune since I was a little girl and didn’t know anyone named Lucy until Tuesday.

Turns out that my new friend was an avid reader and we had a lot to talk about. We compared favorite books and both agreed that The Fault in Our Stars was really, really sad but well-written. She looked through the journals I brought with me and asked if I was a ‘real live writer.’ Then she asked me which Harry Potter book I liked best.

We carved out our own corner in that airport and I could feel  happiness surrounding us. Her mom checked in from time to time, but didn’t seem to mind the reprieve as she chased Lucy’s busy little blonde brothers up and down the aisles between the seats.

Even though she almost had her mom convinced, logistics prevented us from sitting together during the two-hour trip to Philly. So, she found me as soon as we stopped at the gate.

“Did you sleep okay?” she asked after she dipped under elbows and bellies to find my seat.

“How did you know that I slept?”

A sly smile spread across her lips, “I checked on you when I went to the bathroom. You look happy when you sleep.”

We filed out of the plane in typical fashion and I lost the family somewhere between the terminal and baggage claim. By the time I reached the carousel, there were only two bags remaining.

You guessed it. My suitcase was next to hers and she was pulling it off as I walked up.

Lucy’s mom was busy herding up the rest of her boisterous brood when she stopped to say, “She’s claimed you!”

I voiced my equal admiration for her daughter and made small talk until Lucy sidled up to my hip and slipped under my arm.

“You’re going to write about me, aren’t you?”

I almost cried. How did she know?

My sweet, little kindred old soul with sparkly eyes. She knew! Most of this post was written before I fell asleep on the airplane and I finished it in the cab ride to the hotel.

You know those people, right?

People who make an impression from the minute they make eye contact until the moment they walk out of your life forever.  After all these years, I’d finally met Lucy in the Sky and, for a little bit, she was all mine.

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Happy Friday!

Just a quick note to say thank you for all of the stops and visits in the last couple of days. You guys rock and I’m so sorry I haven’t been as good of a reader of your sites and sounds. I’ll be back to read and get caught up soon. Just wanted you to know how important the WP community is to me. xo

 

 

51 thoughts on “Lucy in the Sky”

  3. I haven’t even met little Lucy, and I’m enamored. Can’t help but wonder how lovestruck you must’ve felt! I hope some day she gets to read these words you wrote about her and smile.

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  6. Awesome story Michelle. People like Lucy are so rare, it is always an honor to meet them. Thanks very much for sharing with us.

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  10. Aww, such a sweet post. Very fun to read. I’m sorry you couldn’t be with your family, but glad for Lucy and you. Hope Philly treated you well. Have a great weekend.

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  12. my favorite thing about this is how open YOU were to the encounter. Picture all the travelers, just shrugging off that energy because who has time for a little lucy, right? Thank god she found you too….and lucky us to share it with you both. It doesn’t matter if she reads this..she CLAIMED you…..she knows!
    Love this

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    1. We found each other 🙂
      You are so right…it doesn’t matter that she won’t get read it–I’ve already got my little memory and it makes me smile.
      Thanks for stopping by Michele–you always make me smile, too!

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    1. Lucy was wonderful, wise and I can’t get that little one out of my mind. Makes me think of my own daughter who’s all grown un.
      Thanks for stopping and commenting–it means the world to find new friends 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Dani!
      I just wandered over to your page and was completely thrilled with what I found. I can already see that I have so much to get caught up on. I’m so glad you liked my story…little Lucy has touched a lot of hearts this week.
      Michelle

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  27. Oh, Michelle, I got goosebumps reading this. It is one of the wonders of the universe that we find soul mates in all different shapes and sizes and all different places. Makes me grateful. This is written with such love and clarity. A little bit of magic, I think, my friend.

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