Good luck, bon voyage

Across the aisle, the child travels with a doll, pink-skinned plastic with painted on blue shoes. She has lost her dress already, but wears a small bracelet of good luck beads sold in souvenir shops everywhere around town, and a scarf around her head like the elegant ladies of the city. Myself, I was not wearing my newest sweater, but one washed so many times its rich color was fading, and my favorite cotton shirt which I bought before I had lost some weight and now, I realize, its cloth covered buttons are wearing thing. True talismans of good fortune and happiness, not shiny and new.