In general, from fifth grade to 59, Lilah just didn’t go there. The few times she vomited involved alcohol, unconciousness, and the kindness of some fellow partiers.

Except for the London trip. Lilah’s parents determined that they would celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary by taking their offspring to their favorite city. They planned the vacation the way they did most things, with Lilah’s father enjoying the sentiment and asserting his persnickety requirements and her mother early, energetically and repeatedly racing through every preparatory task. Her mom always made such a big deal about plans that Lilah grew up thinking travel was just too much trouble to take.

As arrangements gelled it was settled that she would fly with the parents. Sam and his wife were going to stop in New York on the way and would meet them in London.

Sam didn’t have any travel complications. Unfortunately, the plane that was to fly Lilah and her parents developed a mechanical problem. By the time the plane was fixed the crew had been on too many hours. The airline cancelled the flight.

Of course no travelers were happy about it. A DC-10 load of passengers had to rebook for the next day. They all lined up.

Lilah’s father was devastated. He had diminished with retirement, sunk from a satisfied professional to a degenerating shopping aide, and he valued this family trip like a last pilgrimage. He just couldn’t accept the delay. Sam and Carol would be in London for a full day before them, and that glitch acted on him as if it were wrecking everything. Lilah’s mother was never patient, but her husband’s grief spurred her to be even more aggressive than usual. She elbowed her way to the front of the line. One waiting passenger, annoyed to fearlessness, made a comment about how “some people think lines only apply to others.” Lilah’s mother heard, was slowed enough to pause, and looked to Lilah for support. “Can you believe what that woman said to me?” she whisper-blurted. By then Lilah was so exasperated that she couldn’t cover her own disgust.

(to be concluded next Monday)