if only

Instead of taking the Bolt Bus I fly to Hyannis today. 

While the flight leaves at noon, I leave my house before 9, just to be sure.

I take the subway to the AirTrain to JFK airport.  Without luggage, it’s easy.  But it still takes almost two hours.

I print out my eTicket and am told to go in the expedited check-in line.  I guess I don’t look threatening.  I’m at the gate within minutes of arriving at the airport.

The pilot announces that it’s a beautiful day to fly.  At a quick 38 minutes, it is so much better than sitting on two busses for over six hours.

It’s an uneventful flight, just as I want a flight to be.  The only thing worth noting is the unusual haircut sported by one of the passengers. 

When the plane lands, I say to him, “I’ve never seen a haircut quite like yours. May I take a picture?”

He is appreciative of my observation and happily poses.

Growing up, my dad and I had endless screaming matches over the length of my bangs.  “Your hair is hanging in your eyes,” were words I heard too often. If only I had had this picture. I could have pointed to it and said, “Imagine if this were your child instead of me.” 

I smile thinking of all the arguments that would have been averted.