Brighten Your Day

This was several years ago.

My husband was returning from his flight in New York for work. While he was waiting, he sat next to a much older lady (probably in her 70's) who was trying to return to her country (Cuba).

She had been given permission to visit her child who was sick in the states, and was all alone flying back with a layover in Miami (where we live). He helped her throughout the airport craziness, and when their flight was delayed, she started to cry because she had no friends or family in Miami.

She didn't speak English and was scared. She was planning to sleep in the airport.

My husband called me from the airport and asked me if this little old lady could stay at our house since she was bumped to an early flight the next morning. He told me her story, and we felt so bad for her. I moved my daughter from her bed, remade the bed with new sheets had some hot food waiting for them.

When she came in, she cried. She couldn't believe it. She only had the contact information for her NJ family, so we contacted them to let them know she was safe.

She was scheduled on the red-eye the next morning. We woke up early, I made her a cafecito and tostada, and then my husband took her to the airport. We sent her family in Cuba a little money.

We received an email from her family thanking us profusely for taking care of Norma, their grandmother. I think of her often and hope she is okay, and a lot has changed since that night. My kids are grown, and my mother, also named Norma, has since passed.