Shortly after 9/11 my family and I were going on our first flight together to Alaska. My dad and I went through security and went into the clam chowder restaurant at the end of it. But for some reason my mom and brother were still held up. We sat down and kept waiting until my mom screamed “HE HAS A KNIFE!!!!???????“. My dad went to investigate but my brother and mom were swarmed by the military and they told my dad he couldn’t come closer. So then he came back to the restaurant (there was a big window in the front of it where I could see everything unfold) and he was panicking and pacing saying that we were gonna get put on the no fly list. I just sat there calmly amongst our luggage while absolute chaos was unleashed before my little 9 year old eyes. This was not my first rodeo. My mom was still screaming and causing a scene and my brother was being taken away by troops. I can’t remember where my mom went next.. or where my dad was anymore. I just remember sitting there calmly and waiting to learn what my fate was. Apparently the men with the AK47s questioning my brother were very nice and felt bad for him cause he was so scared (probably more scared of my mom then them tbh). What happened is that he had packed his own luggage and decided there were three very important things to take with him.
1: a cup and balls Magic trick, which was three metal cups stacked on top of each other and encased in a purple velvet pouch
2. His clear game boy advance AND charger. The issue was that in order to save space, he wrapped the charger (still connected to the game boy) around the magic trick pouch.
3. A switch blade. Cause we were going to Alaska and what if he needed it?
Unfortunately it DID look like a bomb and a knife going through the scanner. They let him keep his magic trick and the game boy, but they confiscated the knife.
Anyways this pic is of me after we were reunited and weren’t put on the no fly list. ready to go to Alaska with my arctic animal tee.
Mar 10, 2025
Related Recs
⛈️
I was on a flight from Mexico that was going through a storm. There was insane turbulence—the kind where everyone is screaming and crying and praying. I was panic sobbing, gripping my arm rests for dear life, when the Mexican teenage boy next to me held out his hand for me to hold. I was so touched. I gripped his hand for the last 45 min of the flight as we were tossed around in the air and the pilot made crazy maneuvers and I seriously considered texting my family that I love them just in case.
When we finally landed I was so grateful for this little act of kindness and said muchas gracias and the kid gave me a little smile and said “tienes Instagram?” lmao. We still follow each other on instagram.
Apr 18, 2024
🚃
In 2026 I had taken a bit of a pilgrimage to see the Ghent Altarpiece because I was obsessed with the van Eyck brothers. I saw it a few times. Then one morning I woke up very early to fly out from the Brussels airport.
It was 5:00 AM. I was so tired and it was so foggy and dreary. Especially near the cathedral where I was staying.
As I was waiting for the trolley to catch a train to the airport, I looked across the street and the most beautiful old woman was having breakfast. Her hair was a perfect streakless white and the juice in front of her was such a vivid orange–almost red. I stared, and was caught in the moment for just a few seconds too long. I missed my train, was delayed, and had to wait for the next one.
As I finally approached the station, there was a smashing sound. I looked out the window and saw smoke rising from the airport. Then the train started running backwards to Mechelin where everyone had to get off because they had shut down all transportation in the region.
It was the 2016 Brussels Bombing. And I realized, I stood in a coffee shop to call my friends, that that woman had saved my life. If she hadn’t been there, I would have made my train and been in the terminal when and where it happened. In the moment, and sometimes after, she feels like God, or at the very least an angel. My mom, of course, pointed out that I didn’t see her drink the juice and angels do not need to eat.
Apr 28, 2024
🚶
I’m the fourth of six kids, so growing up there simply weren’t enough eyes to really keep us all in check. Apparently I was “low needs” (learned behavior) so it was really easy for me to sneak away, and I did often.
When I was around 5 or 6 we were visiting family in Connecticut. I met some kids at the beach and when they invited me to their house, I just followed. My parents at some point noticed I was gone and freaked out, but found their way to me through various people directing them. I guess we walked along the sea wall and could have easily fallen onto some sharp rocks 🤷♀️. They found me miles away, playing in the kids’ backyard, unscathed.
I also got lost at Disney when I was 7. They found me marching in the parade.
I know for sure I have some guardian angels, even before I had confirmation, because I’ve done a lot more of this in more dangerous situations and I was always relatively fine.
Jul 4, 2024
Top Recs from @nataliemcm
He would have been 101 today 🤍 this was his navy photo from when he was 15. He was a ward of the state, so he was able to join as a minor and was quickly sent to Pearl Harbor. the best person I’ve ever known. despite going through arguably the worst set of circumstances growing up, he was the most loving and caring human on earth. just wanted to share his photo and tell the internet how much I loved him 🥹
Mar 12, 2025
Apr 10, 2025
I would throw myself off a cliff for him I just love him so much and I only want good things for him always
Mar 10, 2025