How would you help if you were stranded at an airport?

Hurricane Earl has me thinking about something that happened a long time ago in a Dallas airport.
We were at the airport in the wee hours of the morning, taking the first flight by American Airlines into Hawaii. The mood in the airport for everyone that was in the lines was pretty happy. We were all joking and laughing about the fact that we were off to a "terrible time in Hawaii", which was blatant lies and sarcasm, but, it was all in good fun.


None of the shops and stores were open yet, but, it was okay, because we were all packed and ready to head off to Hawaii. In front of us in line, a woman stood with a small young child. They had been bumped the night before from a flight, and missed the last chance connecting flight that was leaving in the middle of the night. When she went back to the ticket counter after the missed flight, there was no one there to help her. 


They had slept on the airport grounds, something I, also have had to do. The child looked tired and miserable, and so did the mother. They had lost the stroller for the child, it had gone onto the destination. She was attempting to get on a flight, any flight, just so that she would have made some progress. Finally, with a few key strokes, the woman at the ticket counter was able to get them a flight to Chicago, and from there, onto her final destination. Everyone was happy. 


We walked with her to her gate, all of us Hawaii bound passengers. A woman who was with a small child offered the stranded woman the use of her umbrella stroller to get to the gate. A second couple managed to fish out snacks from their child's diaper bag. A third set of parents came up with a few clean pull-up diapers for the boy to wear, since he had soiled his last one. 
It was really great to see all of these people with kids pulling together to try and make what must have been horrible situation at least more bearable. 


The best part of all is that these people all did this without being asked. They pulled together for a stranger at an airport. 


I carry a laptop with me pretty much where ever I go. I have a short (30 minutes) video of Sponge Bob, a short video of some music videos from Russia, and a couple of short Mickey Mouse and similar videos all in a folder that I have labeled "Kid Vids". This folder was created when my nieces were small and I was going to take them with me across a few state lines. I figured that there would be places where a little kid entertainment would be needed while I handled paperwork, rental cars, and the like. That little folder has been such a solid hit that whenever I get a new computer, I move that folder over to it.


In Russia, while at an airport with a plug, a group of kids that had a six hour layover sat in front of my computer watching all of the videos, never touching the computer, but applauding after each one was finished. When they were done (the videos) the Russian kids touched my arm and said (via signs and hand gestures) "Play Again?" which I did.


A delayed plane in the Ukraine made me the star of the airport, when no available televisions made for cranky kids. I powered up the laptop, and at least 30 kids all came over, sat cross legged on the floor and watched my videos. I kept the laptop on my lap, as some of the smaller children kept wanting to touch the screen.


Shanghai's layover made me friends of 3 sets of American couples returning home with their new bundles. The children were young, but one of the older ones sat next to me, pointing to the monitor saying "Bob!" Whenever Spongebob would come on.


My contribution to airport situations is small, but, I would never leave home without my laptop. I would also never leave it unattended, but, that is another story entirely.