The First Iss

Starbucks?

Check.

Purse?

Check.

Carry on?

Check.

Boarding pass?

Check.

Phone?

Check.

A new message?

Of course.

She would wait until she sat down before she read the message. Walking into a pole, onto or off of a moving sidewalk unexpectedly or bumping into the back of someone while reading the message would not be a good way to start her morning.

After placing her purse at her feet, her carry on in the seat with her and the cup of hot coffee to her lips she glanced down at the message.

"Did you make it through security without multiple frisks? lol"

"Great timing! I did. Although, I hate walking on the floor bare foot. But, wearing flip flops makes the process quick and easy and I feel like I get through with less hassle." Was her reply.

She took another sip as she watched the message bubble appear as he was typing.

"That is true! I cause a lot of trouble when I wear my steel toed boots in the airport."

That message caused her to chuckle.

"Why would you wear steel toed boots when you are going to fly?"

"Just in case we happen to meet up some time on a connecting flight you will be able to identify me." He responded.

She sat at the end of a row by her loading gate. The row of chairs behind her were empty as well as the chairs in her row. She liked having the openness created by sitting on the end of the row. There may be the occasional little kid running around while attempting to be the object of everyones attention. Other than that, the end of the row was the place to be.

His silly responses and attempts at humor made her giggle and her eyes twinkle. Suddenly she burst out in laughter. It was not caused by the steel toed boot message he sent, rather, a thought she had of a response she knew he would give. She could see his reply in her minds eye and she continued to laugh.

"There is a kid running all over the place. The parents think it is so cute and expects everyone to smile and applaud because their kid is loud and obnoxious." She would type.

His response would be. "Trip the kid and give yourself something to laugh about."

She knew he did not expect her to do such a thing, but, she also knew that he would expect her to chastise him and then laugh.

She did.

She also knew that he loved and adored kids. If a kid would fall in front of him or get hurt, he would be the first person to check and make sure they were not injured too badly. Then he would instantly switch into clown mode and make the child laugh.

A smile formed on her face once again as she typed out her reprimand and then "You made me giggle".

"Good." Was all he said.

People were beginning to filter into the area as the departure time was nearing. Boarding would begin in about thirty minutes and she would sit and watch people jockey for position. This also amused her because of his perspective of people and their need to always be first.

"If you always try to be first, then you will never see what needs to be done to help the people around you. If you step back and put others first, you then can support, encourage and help them succeed."

She sat for a few minutes and thought about how he really does look at the things in this world in a different way than others. Or, maybe others see things the same way he does but he is not afraid to speak his thoughts.

The message roused her from her thoughts and she took another sip of her coffee as she read.

"Have you ever heard the song Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley?" He asked.

"I have, but it has been a long time. Why?" She typed.

"There are some lyrics in the song that I really like. I just wondered if you have ever heard the tune."

"What lyrics are speaking to you right now that caused you to want to share them with me?" She asked.

He sent an "lol" followed by, "You really do know me. I really like the entire song but these words are pulling at me or speaking to me or I just cannot get them out of my head. Would you like to know what they are?

"I would."

She sat for a few minutes finishing her coffee as he typed. Then the words appeared.

"Sometimes I'm a strong man

Sometimes cold and scared

And sometimes I cry

But that time I saw you

Knew with you to light my nights

Somehow I'd get by."

She waited for him to type more but nothing else appeared on the screen.

"Those words are very transparent and powerful." She said.

"They are. You should hear the song itself." Was his reply.

Suddenly, behind her and to the right, she heard Don Henley's melodic voice... "Sometimes I'm a strong man...Sometimes cold and scared....And sometimes I cry...."

She turned quickly and looked over her right shoulder only to see a back pack sitting in the chair. The music was coming from a speaker inside the backpack. As she turned with her head bowed to her phone so she could tell him what was happening, she saw a boot that had a worn area that exposed the steel toe.

She raised her head and saw him kneeling in front of her. His eyes below her eye level. He reached out his hands and took hers as they stood.

The music continued, "Lovers forever face to face...My city or mountains....Stay with me stay...."

With eyes of love

A heart of joy

and a soul of longing

He leaned to her and they had their first kiss.