On a return flight from a vacation, an airline that will remain nameless (United) did what until then seemed impossible in the annals of lost-luggage lore: It lost our carry-on bag. Filled with diapers, formula, gin and enough toys to occupy our infant daughter until she takes the SATs, we reluctantly handed it over when a steward said it was too bulky for the lawn chair-sized plane. Of course, by the time we arrived at the connecting airport, and with minutes to spare before our next flight, the airline said, essentially, "Woops!"
"You have to delay the flight!" I screamed, "You can't lose our bag with all our baby food and then just send us on our way. Cancel the flight, reroute it -- I don't care! It's. a. baby!" All this is to say I have some sympathy when I hear about parents going crazy when it comes to providing for their kids, or, in the case of a young Florida couple, their fetus.
Police say 20-year-olds Lorenzo David Gibbs and Jitashio Denorantice Conyer took a page out of Pulp Fiction and robbed a restaurant to raise some cash because they thought Conyer was pregnant. In a move more Yolanda and Ringo than Bonnie and Clyde, the pair successfully made it out of the restaurant (at least they'll have something to teach the baby) but were later apprehended following the robbery of a gas station (never mind).
Do I sympathize with armed robbers? Felons? Sure. You bet. The shock of impending parenthood for many people is just that, shocking. Add in the thought that you can't provide what the baby needs -- in my case, food for a long flight; in their case, a home devoid of prison bars -- and something that seems totally unreasonable just minutes before suddenly appears as logical as two-plus-two. "Delay 200 people for my baby!" Or, "Hands up!" Of course, most people find more socially acceptable solutions. Like sticking to restaurants.
