I was trying not to stare.
Most eyes sitting in the vinyl chairs of the high-celling lounge,
couldn’t help but look as well. A
college age daughter was clinging to her mother weeping. Her sister stood nearby, tears wiped away by
her hand, patting her sister's back; trying to be strong. Hearts were breaking as they faced the coming
separation, as they faced saying goodbye. As I was sitting along with other travelers in the LA airport, I tried not to
interrupt their sweet, but gut-wrenching moment. A very personal scene in a very public
place. My eyes too filled with tears.
I’ve been there, felt that.
What do you think of when you think of airports? Exciting adventures,
the prospect of new places or heading off on a well-needed get-away? To be honest most of my thought are of stressful, breath-catching rushes to catch a waiting flight or
hunched-over hours waiting in hard seats.
Or heaving overweight luggage and waiting wonderingly at the baggage
claim with our bags no where in sight. Of
confusing lines in immigration and shuffled paperwork and passports. Of cranky 2 year olds on leashes and even
crankier mommas carrying sleeping dead-weight babies that never slept on their
overnight flight. Just some of the exciting adventures that the word “airport” brings to my mind.
Yet airports will always mean 2 words to me. “Hello” and “Goodbye”. Just like
the raw, but real farewells of the fellow travelers that I stumbled upon in my
people watching at the airport yesterday I too, had just said another goodbye. This time to 2 of my kids, who I know I will see again in just a few weeks, but I still wonder how on earth they will survive without me. And then another goodbye, just one of so many goodbyes, to my mom when she dropped me
off at the airport. Tighter than tight
hugs and misty eyes each time. I was so
thankful for our short time together and sweeter than sweet fellowship. Always wondering when the next time we will
meet on our minds but not on our tongues.
But it is not always so sad, because airports can also mean “Hello” too.
Walking out of cool, dry California and into warm, muggy Tokyo, another
hug, and more misty eyes. Into the arms
of my sweet beloved, and into an armful
of sweet-smelling roses. A long awaited
hello, connecting again face to face. Knowing
and feeling that this is where we should be and ever only be, together.
