Simple things.

Remember when you were a little kid and going to the airport meant standing, nose pressed to glass, watching the airplanes taking off and landing? I do. Maybe I'm dating myself, or maybe I was fascinated by simple things. But going to the airport to pick up or drop off a relative always signaled an exciting event.

My kids—post 9/11 kids—have never known that activity. The few times we've taken someone to the airport have meant rushed curbside drop-offs, or waiting in a stuffy, interior corridor—windows occasionally showing bus traffic—for our passenger to arrive.

This past Saturday we dropped off my dh's sister. It was one of those curbside affairs and going to the airport seemed completely disconnected from anything involving aircraft. But on the way out of the airport, we spotted a business park parking lot where someone was sitting watching planes land and take off. We had packed a lunch as we were planning on doing errands after the drop-off, so we pulled in, opened the back of the car, and had an impromptu picnic.

Another parent with a toddler pulled in while we were having our lunch and I realized that kids still like the excitement of watching the planes taking off and landing. You just can't do it at the airport.

My kids watched the commercial and small planes, and cheered while watching them speed down the tarmac. They speculated about the people on the planes and where they could be going. We talked about the president's plane. We marveled at the speed and the noise. In short, it was the nose pressed to the glass experience that I remember. But without the glass. A rare, completely, unexpected, yet successful outing. I am grateful.