We all need a hand guiding us home

Written By Katie Rizzo

A baby snuck her face through the crack of the airplane seat in front of us. She had the biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. 

We cooed at her, made faces, and stared into the depths of those ocean eyes. 

I told the mom, “If you get tired of holding that adorable baby, toss her our way.”

Within a few minutes, the mom held her baby over the seat and said, “Do you mind?”

Did I mind? Not at all. Best part of my week. 

The little one’s brother, who was four, told us about how his mom hurt her foot and now couldn’t walk. She was traveling with two tiny kids, no mobility, and brave enough to accept help. 

I have so much to learn.  

***

Birth and death, they’re so intertwined in my head right now. 

I’d gotten on that flight a few hours after saying good-bye to my dad. We’d been visiting him in the hospital. He had a hemorrhagic bleed in his basal ganglia. He was getting better so fast, but then the hospital made a mistake. Now he has good and bad days, but mostly he’s exhausted. 

And in some aspects we are all helpless kids. Life happens, and you end up relearning how to swallow. Curiosity helps in any situation: bang on the tray in front of you. Grab the lady’s face that keeps smiling like a mad person. It takes effort to live in this world. Move your body as much as you can and don’t forget how much we need each other.  

My dad squeezed my hand as he rested. That sweet baby on the plane did the same. It was as if they were checking, are you still there?

***

On October 24 & 25 I’ll be launching my new book of poems - None of Them Are You at the Mesa Arts Center during theire Día de los Muertos Festival. I’ll send out details as I get them.

***

I had the honor of being on three podcasts in the last few weeks. And I got to write a piece of grief for the Grieve Leave blog: 

Katie Rizzo
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