Canada, ay?

We arrived into London this morning, around 8am, and went to sit down for our dreaded 13 hour lay over. Brooke went to sleep almost immediately, but I couldn't, so I read a book, journaled, and people-watched for like 3 hours. I was getting severely bored, so I finally whipped out my ipod and tried to get comfortable. I had just sprawled out across 3 chairs when a group of 10 or so older people came to sit down around us. I  got up and let them have the other seats I had just taken, and they all sat down around me. It was kind of awkward, but they seemed really energetic and friendly. Almost immediately, a little old lady with white hair and a silver bag started asking me questions. I told her that we were on our way to Kenya, and answered the other questions she asked. The rest of the group started listening in, and they all started asking things too. Soon enough, I was talking to 10 or more older folk about Africa, why we were going, and what we were going to do there. I asked them about themselves, and I learned that they were Canadian, and had gone on a trip with their Priest to a bunch of different places in northern Europe. They were on their way home. With Brooke still asleep, I talked to them for a long time. We talked about what Idaho is like, what Canada is like, funny stories about their trip, what the food is like in different places; we seriously talked about everything. One lady, Paula, even told me about how she had lost her husband just a few months ago, and how the trip was a healing experience for her. They were all charismatic, very social, and hilarious. They entertained me for a long time, and then when Brooke woke up, they entertained her too. They were accepting and curious, genuinely wanting to know as much as they could about us. They acted as if they were our long lost grandparents, telling us to drink plenty of water, keep our "gas tanks full" (stomachs), and to make sure to be safe. 
In the midst of all the dead faces, awkward stares, the silence between the stranger sitting right across from you- they were a blessing. They kept us laughing, asking if a president ever came from Idaho, or if they wrapped the potatoes in gold paper. In the midst of all the negativity that comes with airports, they were a fresh, positive change. A true blessing :)