Kelly and Jake Levine faced the typical anxieties of first-time parents as they prepared to take their five-month-old daughter, Romey, on a flight from New Jersey to Mexico. The couple was unsure how their daughter would handle the journey, especially since it was her first time flying.
During the return flight, an unexpected moment unfolded. Romey became captivated by a woman sitting across the aisle, Meegan Rubin, who was crocheting. The rhythmic movement of Rubin’s hands held the baby’s attention throughout the flight. Rubin, noticing the baby’s fascination, realized that the yarn she was using matched Romey’s outfit. With only an hour left in the nearly five-hour flight, she decided to create a beanie for the baby.
Once the plane landed, Rubin presented the finished hat to the Levines. Kelly Levine expressed her astonishment, stating, “Never seen someone work so fast in my life. I had no idea it was for us.” She appreciated the gesture, noting it was a wonderful way to brighten the day of a stranger and everyone around them.
Rubin, who had taken up crocheting during the pandemic, explained her motivation: “I couldn’t help it. I was like, this baby is getting something because she’s too cute.” She described crocheting as a rewarding and calming activity, stating, “Creating something out of a string is so rewarding. It’s like holding the entire universe inside your hands.”
Kindness, even the very simplest act can create meaningful connections between strangers. Plus, one doesn’t need a committee meeting or years of planning before expressing kindness. It should be as spontaneous as the disintegration of atomic nuclei in a radioactive substance.