Flying for the first time in 2 years!

 Due to the pandemic (which is raging again due to the unvaccinated) we have not flown in 2 years now.  So after a nice evening with our daughter and her family (and our sweet grandson) we headed to the airport early.  We had a flight from BWI to Denver, then a flight to Portland, Oregon.  At the gate for the flight to Portland I saw a man looking a bit confused about the Southwest boarding system, which if you are not used to it is understandable.  I asked him if he understood and he said no, so I explained it.  He was very appreciative and said he had not flown since 1986!  WOW - not a single thing is the same except flying in a plane!  We boarded ahead of him and when he was looking for a seat and saw me he asked if the seat between myself and the 12 or so year old girl in the window seat was reserved and I told him yes - it was for him!  So he joined us in our row.  As we sat there awaiting takeoff I asked him after so many years what had inspired him to fly that day?  He told me his sister was ill and was in hospice care.  He had planned to drive to see her in September but was called and told it was time to come, so he flew.  He then told me that he and his siblings had been in an abusive home and were all adopted out when they were young.  He knew he had 3 siblings because of his birth certificate, but was unable to find them.  He matched 3 people on Ancestry dna and they were his nieces - daughters of this sister.  The sister knew of the brothers who had both passed away previously.  It was a real joy to view flight thru the eyes of this man who had absolute wonder about the whole process.  Toward the end of the flight he asked some questions about baggage claim so I told him we would be going there too and he was welcome to come with us.  It was an honor to help this man in his mission to get to his sister while she was still with us - I hope he made it.  Now we will be here with family for 10 days, and we will enjoy every minute!