Owen and Hobbes

Okay, I've made it to Chicago.  The elves say that the homestead is still in one piece, so that's good.  And the flight was fine, but completely full to the point of them asking if there were any takers for a later flight. My favorite though is when they're so full that they say, "as a courtesy" they'll send any carry-on bags as checked luggage with no charge.  I always feel it's no courtesy, since it's the airlines themselves that caused the problems by charge for all checked luggage...which is why most people carry everything on board.  If a plane is so full with carry-on bags that the airline wants me to check mine, I'll be happy to do so if they offer me something as compensation.  And "a courtesy" doesn't cut it.

Traveling through airports, though, made me realize that this story is all the more appropriate.

A couple of weeks ago, when traveling through Tampa International Airport to Texas, six-year-old Owen Lake lost his utterly beloved stuffed tiger, Hobbes.  His parents told the sad little-boy that Hobbes was on an adventure.  Little did they know, he actually was. 

The parents contacted lost-and-found at TIA and...well, here's what happened.

Lots of good moments in the report, but my favorite moment comes near the end when Owen explains how much he really, really loves Hobbes.

(Note: the news reporter mentions to the anchor that "We need some good news after Game Six."  He's referring to the Stanley Cup Finals, where the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning.)

FOX 13 News

P.S. What the story doesn't mention is that, in addition to taking pictures of Hobbes's adventure, the airport also sent out a bunch of tweets from Hobbes about his day.  To see a few of them, click here and scroll through the article.