In my house, we have stopped giving material gifts for birthdays and holidays to one another. We don’t have the space and more importantly, we do not need more stuff. My kids don’t need it. My wife doesn’t need it. I certainly don’t need it. Instead, our focus is on time, experiences, and creating meaningful memories that last far longer than disposable goods. One such memory was forged on a recent Saturday, when we celebrated my son’s birthday at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Birthday Celebration At LAX? A Perfect Gift For A 4-Year-Old
My son Augustine loves airplanes (I’m fully to blame). He loves airports. So what better way to spend a birthday than taking him to the airport for a few hours?
We arrived at LAX around 10:00am, watching a trio of planes fly over as we walked from Sepulveda Boulevard toward the airport.
I have “connections” at LAX…that doesn’t mean I can parade my whole family through security when not traveling. No, these are father-son trips until my daughter is old enough to join us voluntarily.
Our destination was the Tom Bradley International Terminal, but we cleared security via Terminal 4. Even from the windows of the security checkpoint, Augustine already got excited, noticing a fleet of American Airlines aircraft and a Hawaiian Airlines A330-200 bound for Honolulu.
We proceeded through the bridge connecting Terminal 4 to the Bradley Terminal, stopping to admire both the ANA 777 and JAL 787 we had seen landing over our heads.
The international terminal was very quiet. All the lounges were closed, including the Qantas lounge, Korean lounge, oneworld lounge, Star Alliance business class lounge, and Star Alliance first class lounge. Almost all restaurants were closed as well.
But despite depressed traffic and dramatically depressed demand, we enjoyed seeing a number of aircraft over the next 90 minutes. Augustine’s favorite was the Hawaiian Airlines A330 that matched his toy while my favorite was the Qatar Airways A350.
The beauty of this time was not just watching the airplanes, but the conversation I had with Augustine on a wide host of issues. When I look back one day on my life, I do not want regrets that I abandoned my kids in pursuit of wealth or power.
The one blessing of the pandemic is that I have had so much time with my kids this year and it has been a wonderful thing (most of the time, of course…). But there’s something extra special about going to the airport with your son and essentially having it to yourself. We had a great time and I hope Augustine will look back on these pictures one day and find them far more valuable than the United Airlines toy set my brother gave him later that day.
About 2:00pm we headed back to my car. Augustine was thrilled to see one more plane fly overhead, a China Airlines A350, as he played “crash” in the bushes with his toy A330.
An In-N-Out burger as a reward? Nope, not even on his birthday. We are doing our best to shield Augustine from the wonderful world of junk food that Daddy is addicted to…
CONCLUSION
There are some exceptions to my “no gift” rules. Books and flowers are still okay. Clothing in rare circumstances of dire need. But I strongly recommend you take your kids on a trip instead of buying them things they don’t need. Not only is the moment exhilarating, but the memories are sweet. Happy birthday little man. Daddy loves you.
Happy birthday to Augustine.
Tell him there is nothing wrong in playing with dolls and lipstick too.
Uhm, yes there is. He’s a boy not a girl.
What a ridiculous response. How old are you? People in the US need to get a grip. Not everything is about the culture war, believe it or not.
Interesting thing to note.. China Airlines had both a Boeing and an Airbus special liveries at LAX that day
I thought that was very cool.
I remember waiting almost an hour in that TBIT security line last December, still unbelievable to me to see it so empty.
Glad you & your son were able to share this special experience!
Amazing how empty that terminal was. Happy birthday, little Augustine.
Happy Birthday, Augustine. You had a really special day @ LAX !!
Blessings to Augustine. Spending your time with him is way better than a toy. You’re creating formative memories.
Amazing how he is growing so fast. Thank you again for sharing him with us. It is really something special.
Super postM <3 with your son 🙂
Yes, lovely. Airports are a lifelong interest, bordering on addiction. I feel a sense of excitement every time I go to one…even if I’m just dropping off/picking up someone. Same for railway stations.
When I lived in Singapore, we’d go to Changi for plane/people watching quite regularly, including going to Swensens, as it had the best views of the tarmac/runway. It’s only about 35 years ago.
Happy birthday to little Augustine…
IT mušt be really wanderfull spending day fór this boy Happy birthday little Augustín! My grandson is 4year old too, bud hlave only posibility watching the trafic railway station. By!
We ended up in Alaska for my son’s 4th birthday this year. Of course there were presents (some junk we picked up in Seward a few days prior), but I have to say, he got far more excitement out of the concept of having his birthday in Alaska than anything else. We picked up some cupcakes at a grocery store and sat around our cabin singing happy birthday and eating them that evening. I’ll need to do the birthday trip thing with him more often.
P.S. Happy birthday, Augustine!
So lucky to have LAX. At many medium sized airports around the US, it is a boring 737 vs. A320 vs. E175. In years past, there was plenty variety. For example, Boeing 727, 737, 757, DC-9, MD-80, Fokker 28, BAe146, A320, DC-10, 767-200, Metro III, Shorts 360, Saab 340, ATR42, etc.
The best gift you can give is experience. I am in love with all the photos. Can’t wait to have kids to do the same.
He is simply adorable!
What a great way to spend the day. Happy Birthday, Augustine! Wow, how time…flies!
Great Article, LAX was my favorite place during my youth and my parents took me to LAX for my 12th birthday. That was 1971 and we spent the entire day there even eating at the theme building for lunch. So many vintage airplanes and airlines no longer around. Should take your boy to the LAX museum over off imperial…
I will check it out!
Matthew
You remind all of us about right values with your story of Augustine’s birthday. One of the major wounds of the Western world is the disintegration if the father/son relationship.
What a mentor you are to all of us. When I was a kids I go to go on a train, as a treat – Santa Fe from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station. It was the best thrill,
Thanks for reminding us all. Blessings to you and your family
Lol! Matthew: “I have ‘connections’…”
*meanwhile*
Me: *gets kicked out of the airport garage for trying to get a closer look at an AN-124 parked at a gate*
I need details!
I just turned 50. I would absolutely love it if someone was to take me to LAX to watch the planes. But then, I live in Sydney, Australia so it’d have to be a really generous person to do that! But in all seriousness, what a great birthday present for young Augustine! Clearly, he had the time of his life and with your own travel experiences, Matthew, I have no doubt that Augustine will grow up wanting to work for an airline….a job where he can spend many more birthdays, watching airplanes…
It is good to see that someone with an exorbitant carbon footprint like you puts in the effort to reduce waste. One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is an inhabitable planet and accumulation random stuff won’t help achieve that goal.