LPOV

My first memories of Granny Bell always bring a smile to my face.  Of course there are all the family anecdotes from Christmas and vacations.  But those are memories that belong to others, memories from other minds inserted into my own.  Those types of memories just do not hold the same sweetness as the ones we make for ourselves.  I started coming out to Granny Bell's house for visits on my own when I was eight.  Mom was in the hospital again and Dad was not handling it well.  I was still naïve enough to believe that everything would be fine, mom would be healthy again when I got home. After all Mother had told me it would be okay, and promised that my visit with Granny Bell would be the best six weeks ever. 
 
The thrill I had when Dad put me on the big airplane all by myself was so intense.  I felt like a grown up, I was no longer some silly little kid that had to be babysat at all times.  Funny, I did not realize what the flight attendant was really doing when she asked if the seat next to me was open.  When ever she was not serving drinks or taking people pillows and blankets she was sitting next to me.  She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  Her long blonde hair was spun up into a perfectly messy bun; fingernails painted in a meticulous French manicure, even the very plain flight uniform looked marvelous on her.  She read me stories, taught me how to play gin rummy, and even held me when the turbulence became rough enough to frighten me.  How I wanted to grow up to be just like her! I can remember exactly the smell of her perfume, the shades of her hair, even the sweet smell of her breath, but I can not remember her name.  I am sure she wore a name badge, but I guess at eight names did not hold the same fascination for me as they do now.
 
When it was time to get off the plane in Seattle Washington my new best friend, the nameless beautiful flight attendant, asked me if I would mind walking with her down to the greeting area.  She claimed it made her lonely to leave all the people in the airplane and go home by herself, so a few more minutes with a friend would make her day much brighter.  Of course I could not deny my new friend anything.  As we approached the greeting area I saw my Granny Bell waiting nervously for me.  She ran forward and swept me up in her loving arms and spun me around and around laughing and kissing my forehead.  As a very mature eight year old; I was of course terribly embarrassed by this childish display, until I saw my new friend smiling with a look of pure joy on beautiful face.  She came over to Granny Bell and gently squeezed my shoulder thanking me for keeping her company.  Then she told Granny how lucky she was to have such a beautiful granddaughter and to enjoy every minute she had with me.  I will never forget how my friends' golden eyes locked with Granny's soft brown eyes.   Granny silently nodded to the flight attendant and thanked her for keeping me safe during my travels as a single tear quietly ran down her cheek.
 
“Well lady Lenai, shall we go hunt down a trolley to fetch your bags or shall we buy you all new clothing?  You know I do believe they donate anything left behind to very needy children.  I laughed at Granny's silliness; Daddy had warned me that Granny hated shopping.