I don’t recommend taking a 1 year old on a cross country flight just for the hell of it. There’s something about sitting still and staying quiet that doesn’t work well with toddlers on crowded planes. But depending on what’s waiting for you at your destination, the trip might be worth it.
The truth is, sometimes you just have to go farther away to feel closer to home. And “Home” for me can be wherever I feel joy, love, and comfort. So if I can find that for a week in some place 40 degrees warmer, I’ll take the deal. In fact, I can feel “home” whether it’s a long walk on Meadowbrook Lane or a quick hike in Malibu, Hollywood, La Jolla, or Laguna. I can feel “home” hitting the volleyball around at West Goshen Park, or on the sunny Santa Monica sand. I can feel “home” whether it’s a fun evening in West Chester or a night out at the Staples Center and San Diego Shout House. And a “home” cooked meal can be served at my own kitchen table, or with cocktails at Malibu Farm, Fig, or Dukes.
All that matters is the people I’m with, the conversations I’m having, and the feelings I’m feeling.
Casey and Mikey- After visiting you, I feel like I know you better as people, love you more as a couple, and appreciate you more as fantastic hosts. Thank you for the entertainment and all of the hospitality!
Jordan- thank you for bringing “home” along with us. You skillfully helped Charlie and I get through all of the flights, activities, and meals without a hiccup. You keep my heart as full as you keep that diaper bag. And even as I get better at this dad thing, you’re always three steps ahead of me.
Charlie- the trip felt most like home because we got to make all of these memories and experience all of these adventures with a 25 pound little bear in pig tails. Whether you were strapped to my chest, waddling around my ankles, playing on our laps, eating in your high chair, or sleeping in your pack and play, you didn’t slow us down at all. It was only a few days, but it felt like we flew to LAX with a baby, and came back to PHL with a little kid.
So as the pilot announces our descent into Philadelphia, and asks us to put our trey tables up and seat-backs in an upright position, I’m thinking about the week we just had. I think back to the conversations I had with Mikey about life, ambition, and fulfillment. I think about Aunt Kiki (Casey) making Charlie giggle in her car seat as she played peekaboo and whispered “secrets.” I think about the 5 am daily breakfast we had because Charlie kept the entire apartment on Eastern Standard Time. I think about how steep those trails felt with Cheerio-filled Charlie strapped to my chest. I think about Jordan and Charlie, just two blonde California girls walking hand in hand down the pier with the Ocean to one side and Mountains to the other. I think about how great it was to meet up with Gina and Melissa and Sean to bring even more family into our experience. I think about our shenanigans at the Tin Roof and dueling pianos once mom and baby went back to the hotel for the night. I think about the toothy grins, the squeaks, and the babbles coming from the girl propped up in the Baby Bjorn. I think about that same little girl on the plane ride home flirting with the UCLA Men’s Volleyball team during the entire flight.
And again, I don’t typically recommend bringing a toddler across the country. But depending on what’s waiting for you at your destination, the trip might be worth it. Our recent visit to California was certainly worth it.
Casey and Mikey made us feel right at home.
The Janiec Reflection 