It would be cool if we collected weird merit badges as adults. Imagine, finding the right Tupperware top for the container on the first try. That would earn you the Tupperware Matchmaker badge. Or, you successfully remember to cancel the trial subscription the day before they start charging you? You win a Free Trial Sniper badge. Other badges might include the Ikea Master badge for putting a piece of IKEA furniture together alone and without error (I’m still working on that one) or Social Battery Preserver badge for dipping from a party early wihout being rude.

That brings me to my recent travel experience. Travel, of course, has it’s perks–but also it’s dangers. I’m usually willing to take the risk. However, traveling to the east coast over the winter holidays is always quite risky. Recently we caught a connecting flight out of Dallas on our way to Connecticut. About 80% of the way there the pilot came on the intercom and announced we were being diverted to North Carolina, ETA 11:30 pm. The TL;DR is that we ended up sleeping in the B gate at the Charolette airport and made it up north early the next morning. This was the third airport I’ve managed to be spend the night at and the first with the whole family. We survived…and I earned myself another Slept in Airport badge.