Life's Funny That Way

"Isn't it just lovely up here?" The plump, cheerful woman exclaimed, settling into the plush first-class seat next to Emma. "You know, it's my first time flying first class and I just can't believe you get such a big seating area up here. Usually, I'm cramped back in economy, but this time, I treated myself!"

Emma ground her teeth together, before turning a polite smile toward the woman, trying to mask her annoyance. She had hoped for a quiet, peaceful flight to kick off her long-awaited for vacation. The woman's energy was seeping into her personal bubble. She gazed at the empty glass of champagne on the tray in front of her seat and sighed, wishing it would magically fill again.

This was supposed to be her sanctuary from reality, not a social hour... her long-awaited escape from the 60-hour work weeks, the endless patients, and constant stress as a trauma nurse. But here she was, trapped in a conversation she never asked for.

Emma peered around, hoping for an empty seat she might be able to switch to, but the flight was full. She leaned back in the amazingly comfortable seat and closed her eyes, hoping if maybe she was 'asleep', the woman would leave her alone.

But the woman was relentless. She nudged Emma's arm as she sat down, turning her body towards Emma's, her face filled with curiosity. She took off her sweater, laying it carefully across her knee, then changed her mind and held it up. "What do you think of this colour? My oldest daughter bought it for me. She says it's trendy but I'm not so sure it suits me. I've always been more of a pastel type of person, I think."

Emma closed her eyes breathing out slowly, really wanting to ignore the woman and get on with her vacation. "I'm really not into fashion," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral. She had planned this trip meticulously for over a decade, saving every penny and taking every extra shift at work, just to afford the luxury of first-class seat and an all-inclusive resort. All she wanted was some peace and quiet to relax and mentally prepare for her well-deserved break... no talking, no thinking, no engaging with anyone.

"I'm Liz, well Elizabeth Wayland, but everyone calls me Liz or Lizzie. What's your name, dear?" The woman's voice pierced through the cabin's white noise, her enthusiasm unwavering.

A frustrated noise escaped Emma's lips. She just wanted peace and quiet, but Liz's cheerfulness was as persistent as it was unrelenting. "Emma," she said, a little harder and louder than she had intended. She felt a twinge of guilt for being so dismissive.

Liz, however, didn't appear to have noticed and just smiled, "That's a lovely name, an old-fashioned classic one too just like mine!" She began rummaging through her handbag, pulling out a small photo album. "Are you married? Have children? What about grandkids? Well, I suppose you're too young for those... but I have six of them and I adore each of them." She opened the small book and began pointing at photos with a manicured nail, her many gold bracelets jangling with each movement.

"These are the oldest four," she said, flipping open the first couple of pages. "They belong to my eldest daughter Grace," she pointed to four boys of varying ages, stuffed into suits, looking uncomfortably at the camera. "And these two little sweethearts, the twins, now they belong to my youngest daughter Abigail."

"Uh huh," Emma muttered just as a flight attendant came by asking if there was anything they needed. She waved her glass and mouthed the word 'please' hoping for another drink to ease the migraine she felt starting between her eyes. The flight attendant nodded, and Emma wondered if she could maybe drink the flight away... but Liz had other ideas.

Emma gazed out the window as Liz prattled on about her grandkids varying sports clubs, games, and recitals. The jet engines roared to life outside, and she felt the plane begin to taxi down the runway.

She sighed, then tuned back into Liz, already deep in conversation about one of her grandkid's allergy troubles. She closed her eyes, picturing herself already in Cancun, laying on the beach at her resort, sipping a tropical cocktail instead of listening to someone else's life story.

"You know, sometimes he just won't take his medication, and the nurses and I have to get a little creative with him," Liz said, her voice a little louder than necessary, her expression earnest. "But what can you do? He's as stubborn as a mule."

Emma blinked. What? Was she still talking about her grandkids? She glanced over to find Liz holding a picture of a man, his face etched with lines of age but a smile that radiated love for the woman in his arms. "My husband, George," Liz said, her smile softening. "He's in a Home now with dementia. He forgets me sometimes, but I still visit him every single day. Just to help with the... more personal aspects of his care," she said dropping her voice down to a whisper. "It's hard, you know?"

"Oh right, husband... got it," Emma said awkwardly, her mind racing to find a polite way to excuse herself. But Liz continued on, speaking about the difficulties of a life filled with love, loss, and daily battles with a heartbreaking illness, the woman's eyes held a sadness that was impossible to ignore.

"How do you manage?" she asked, taking another sip of her champagne. "Dementia is a difficult illness to deal with."

Liz shrugged, her eyes misting over. "You just do, dear. You keep going because you love them, and they need you, even if he's in a Home. It's tough, but George and I have been married for almost 60 years," she smiled, her face beaming with pride. "I also have my grandkids to keep me company," The sadness in her eyes briefly replaced with a sparkle of joy. "All six of them."

"Six... wow, that's quite a handful," Emma said with a forced smile, nodding along as Liz recounted tales of her grandkids' mischief. Despite her initial annoyance, she found herself listening despite her resolute desire to disengage.

"Yes, they have been the light of my life though... since George went into the Home." Liz told her, showing Emma the picture of the two little girls with pigtails and toothless grins again. "Especially these two, Lily and Isla. They are seven, and a little bit mischievous, but complete charmers... just like their grandpa."

Emma couldn't help but smile at the innocent joy captured in the photo. "Seven is a fun age, I would imagine," she said helplessly, not really knowing much about kids herself. She had always been too busy with work to start a family of her own. She had nieces but they lived in Halifax and didn't see them much.

"Do you have kids? You never said," Liz asked, her curiosity unabated by Emma's abruptness.

Emma took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her decision to remain childless as a nurse. "No, I don't," she replied, her voice a touch sadder than she had intended. "I decided on having a career instead. Though... I sometimes wonder if I made the right choice," she admitted, surprised by her sudden vulnerability with a stranger.

Liz looked her over, a gleam in her eye. "Well, you know, it's never too late," she said, patting Emma's arm, her smile warm and knowing. "Life's funny that way."

Emma snorted. "I work 60 plus hours a week as a trauma nurse. I don't exactly have time to date, let alone start a family." She took a large gulp of her champagne, the bubbles fizzing in her nose. "Besides... I'm pushing 40."

"You know dear, sometimes there comes a point in life when you realize what's truly important," Liz paused to take a sip from her own glass. "You might think you don't have time now, but life has a way of surprising you," she added with a knowing wink. "You just don't want to wake up ten years from now when it is too late and wish you had done it differently."

Emma felt a twinge of discomfort. Was Liz really that insightful or was she just good at reading people? She took a deep breath and changed the subject, hoping to steer the conversation away from her personal life. "So, where are you going today," she asked, her hands motioning around the plane.

"Oh me? I'm going to visit my sister in Phoenix," Liz replied with a dismissive wave. "We haven't seen each other in ages. You get married and start a life of your own... " she stopped and looked at Emma, her eyes twinkling. "You get caught up in your own world, you know? We lost touch and then a few years ago, her husband passed away and my George got sick... we reconnected." Liz shrugged, looking more wistful than sad.

"Phoenix, eh? That's a beautiful city," Emma said, trying to keep her voice light. The thought of palm trees and endless sunshine was completely opposite to the rainy weather they had left behind in Vancouver. Not quite Cancun... but still a nice change of scenery. "How long're you staying?"

"Just a couple of weeks," Liz said with a smile. "Long enough to get some sun, catch up on old times, and maybe even squeeze in a little shopping!" She patted her purse, which bulged slightly at the side. "Can't leave George for too long, though. He would miss me."

Emma nodded, understanding the balance of living a life of obligation and self-care. "I can understand that." Her voice softer, her entire career flashing in her mind, her choices playing out like a movie reel. "I've missed out on a lot of things, taking care of others." She didn't have a pet, or even a plant. Her life was just work and more work.

"What about you dear? Where are you going? I don't think your deplaning in Phoenix with us," Liz said with a chuckle, glancing at the bag at Emma's feet.

"No, not Phoenix. I'm going to Cancun for a few weeks," she said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. "I've booked an all-inclusive resort where I'm planning to do nothing but lay on the beach, drink fruity alcoholic drinks, maybe go on a few excursions and enjoy food I don't normally allow myself to indulge in." Emma told her, gazing back out the small window, nothing but blue sky and clouds visible. "But enough about me, tell me how you and George met," Emma seemed genuinely intrigued despite herself.

Liz's eyes lit up. "Ah, it was love at first sight really. But, back in '67... in Mississippi, a white woman with a black man, it wasn't exactly normal... or easy." She paused, looking lost in thought for a moment before continuing. "But George, he was different than any of the young men I had dated. Strong, kind, and so handsome. There was just something about him. He would talk to me, despite the glares from people too blinded by prejudice to see two young people in love." She took a deep breath and her voice grew softer. "We had to keep our relationship hidden... even from family. We eventually moved to Canada where things were more... accepting."

Emma's stomach clenched at the thought of the struggles Liz faced when first dating her husband. She hadn't realized what people went through back then. "That must have been incredibly difficult," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. Her own brother-in-law was black, and there had never been any issues when Kate first brought Noah home... it was just her sister bringing home her boyfriend... not like it had been for Liz.

"That's just how it was, back in those days dear," Liz said, a wistful look in her eyes. "But George, bless his soul, never let it get to him. He had this unshakeable belief that love conquered all. And it did... for us anyway." Her eyes suddenly seemed far-away, lost in a sea of memories. "We had a good life together. Our families struggled at first," she said with a chuckle, snapping out of her reverie. "But, once our daughters came along, well, they couldn't resist those little darlings."

"Of course," Emma said, leaning slightly closer to Liz, her curiosity piqued. She had never been one for love stories, but there was something about Liz's resilience that had her hooked. This woman had been through so much, yet she remained cheerful, even in the face of such a heart-wrenching illness after having had to struggle during the early years of her marriage.

"You know, dear, everyone has something in their life that makes them choose how they live their life. I chose to ignore societal norms, marry George and have my daughters. I have been blessed," Liz said, her voice filled with warmth. "But sometimes, you don't get to choose how life turns out. Sometimes, you just keep going because it's all you know. And sometimes, you find happiness in other area... like you did, with your job."

"I do love my job," Emma began, feeling a bit defensive. "But sometimes I think about... what could have been... if I had chosen another path, you know?" Emma sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes briefly. "I've dedicated so much of my life to my job that I'm not sure I even know what I'd do if I wasn't a nurse."

Liz nodded sagely. "I understand, dear. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we do, we forget to live." She cocked her head. "What do you imagine would happen if... say, you got home from your vacation... and you weren't a nurse?"

Emma stuttered, her hands flailing slightly. "What? I don't even... what do you mean?" she asked, her mind racing with a multitude of possibilities she had never allowed herself to consider. She didn't understand why the woman was even asking her that. It was a ridiculous hypothetical. "Why?" She demanded, a bit more sharply than she had meant to.

Liz's eyes remained kind, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Why not? It's just a question dear. It isn't going to hurt you, nor is it going to stop you from actually being a nurse," she said, her tone soothing. "But sometimes, it's worth it to imagine different paths, to understand what makes us truly happy." She stared directly into Emma's green eyes. "Maybe this has nothing to do with choices already made," she suggested, gesturing to her photo album still open on her lap. "But, think of it this way. Would you have been so flustered if that question didn't hit a nerve? What does it matter if you're interested in having kids?"

"I never said I wanted kids," Emma snapped, her voice defensive.

"You also didn't want to talk to anyone... including me, when you got onto this plane," Liz said with a knowing smile. "But here we are... sitting next to one another, sharing stories."

Emma felt a blush creep up her neck. She had been so caught up in her own world, her own plans for the vacation, that she hadn't even considered that she might actually need this conversation. It had started off with her craving solitude, but as the hours ticked by, she found herself drawn into Liz's stories of love, loss, and the quiet moments of joy that filled her life, despite the challenges she faced. "I was just looking forward to my vacation. I have been waiting for this for almost ten years," Emma said, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and regret. "I also don't usually talk to anyone on flights."

Liz smiled, her face radiating warmth. "I like meeting people, hearing their stories. You never know what you might learn... and who you might meet." She paused, looking at the empty champagne flutes in front of them before shifting her gaze back to Emma. "Life's too short to spend it all working, Emma dear. Maybe even too short to spend working nonstop for ten years, for a two-week vacation... that you're spending alone."

Emma startled. Had she really spent her entire 30's working... for two weeks in Mexico? Alone? Fuck... that was utterly depressing. But she had wanted this vacation for so long. She had earned it! She had earned it with her blood, sweat, and tears. But... she had also earned it with her loneliness and sacrifice. And for what? What exactly did she have to show for all her sacrifice except an empty, bare apartment that didn't even have a plant in it?

But Liz... Liz had a life full of love and family. Sure, it had its challenges, but there was something... comforting about the way she talked about George. The way she spoke of her daughters and grandkids. It was... like a warm blanket on a cold day. Something she had never really had.

She turned to the woman in the 1st class seat next to her, took a deep breath, and looked into Liz's kind eyes. "You know what? Maybe I did need this," she said with a hint of a smile. "Maybe I did need to talk to someone."

Liz leaned in slightly, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "We all do dear... sometimes we just don't know we do, until we sit next to a stranger on a plane."