I’ve spent hundreds of hours of my life in airports.
And I still contend there is something magical about them.
They sweep us up and out of ourselves; a moment of complete suspension, between one reality and another. And we see more reflected in the windows than the neon lights dangling above the sunrise. We see snapshots of life played out in the full spectrum of human emotions. Shades of love, sorrow, and reunion that sinew around the heart and squeeze the breath out of lungs no matter how many times the scenes have played out before. Every time they unfold it’s like the first time. Because for someone it is. And for someone else it still feels as vivid as the first time, even when it’s the hundredth.
I spent 36 hours in three different airports this weekend. And aside from the multiple delays and missed flights, the experience did not disappoint.
There was the dad-chaperone travelling with a crew of four teenage girls en route to a missions trip. Watching him shepherd them while trying to balance their independence was a delight. They walked the same tightrope of hope as the rest of us stand-by travellers, but there’s was louder and more rewarding to watch. Two flights came and went without them. Every time names were read they clutched each other with bright green fingernails, sighed and wished and groaned when they were passed by.
But when their father-figure fist pumped and announced he had got them on the second to last flight of the night their joy was delicious. They whooped and leaped and hugged and high fived. I was almost glad they had taken the five remaining seats standing between me and home. Almost.
There was the mom travelling home to Baltimore after a week in Jamaica. Not for vacation, but for a funeral. And her husband would be driving out at midnight with their two daughters in the back seat to pick her up. So when tired mothers came traipsing by with their kids wrapped close in tow, I looked at her and knew her arms felt as lonely as mine.
There were the proud parents of a deeply asleep 21-month old boy who whispered to me in the dark confines of the aircraft about their weary journey from Venezuela. The dad’s red-rimmed eyes warmed into mine and I recognized what I saw there. The look of deep love for a child. The look of a parent who expects everyone else to realize the miracle that exists in his child. So I did. I whispered back how beautiful the boy was and how well he had travelled. And the dad grinned quietly in the dark.
There were other moments too. The sleeping on the floor, the recognition that my bones have aged since they were last stranded like that, and the pure, gut-wrenching frustration of hour after hour of lonely delays. But those were an aside, rather than the main story.
And the main story is always about relationships. The good, the bad, and the desperately beautiful. So, I chose to read those. And I love that you read along. Thank you for being a part of my story. Thank you for making me laugh, providing geography lessons, and encouragement. In all my years of travel, you were a first for me this time, twitter. I love that you walked me all the way home to my happy ending, which, through tired eyes, might have looked a bit like this.
Such beauty found in the airport as seen through your eyes! Love your perspective and so glad we could “keep you company” through it all!
Loved this post! Traveling is full of so many different emotions. The combination of exhaustion, anticipation, frustration and excitement is almost always there. I really enjoy the connections made with people in these situations. I’ve had a few like this traveling between the USA and Australia.
Glad you finally made it back to your family! Glad you had twitter to keep you company :)
Twitter was *the best* company ever!!
I feel the same way about airports and the excess amounts of time I spend there. The beautiful stories being lived out in front of us by strangers…they can sometimes make me cry. I relate so much to hugging goodbye and not knowing when you’ll hug hello again. And I relate to the joy of the hello hugs so much. Either situation can bring me to tears. That might be travel-related sleep deprivation talking, but it is still really, really beautiful!
You know – like I do – the awful beauty and sadness of airports.
That last picture? Love it! Such a sweet family. So glad you made it home safely.
I love airports too. I love watching the coming and going. Its always so romantic to me. Even when its a family, or an individual alone traveling. There’s just this beautiful expectation and emotion and its dream-like.
ps: check your email! I sent you something that I think will make you VERY excited :)
Oh my giddy deliciousness – I am just catching up on comments so I actually saw your email before this comment and squuuuuuueeeeeeeeee I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Girl, you make magic for me today!
I love the way you view life, even through the exhaustion and the frustration. Glad twitter helped you journey with Grace xx
Probably more laughter than grace ;) There was definitely a temper tantrum or two snuck in along the way!
I love how you can see the magic when the majority can only see the mundane.
Glad you are home safely.
I love airport stories. I love songs about airports. I even love airports. Most of the time!
Thankfully the last time we were stranded we found out our flights were canceled before we got to the airport. Because there was a blizzard on my brother’s wedding day and we were stuck until the day before Christmas Eve! But we got him married…and we got home for Christmas. And weren’t even stuck in the airport too long with our crew of 17 people including my two little ones (3 months and 2 years).
Oh. My. Word.
I’ve always thought of airports as little worlds. I don’t think most people sweating it out through a three-hour layover after a six-hour flight do, but I’ve been blessed not to have endured too many of those. So many stories just waiting to be told in those terminal chairs. Don’t you think the whole ‘people mover’ thing has a deeper meaning hidden in it somewhere? Maybe I dig too deeply sometimes.
This is absolutely beautiful. Welcome home!
“Little worlds” – yes, yes me too. They are such a microcosm of the entire human experience. I am right there with you, digging deep for the extra layer ;)
I love people watching. And 36 hours…you’re a rock star.
I sure smelled like one by the end of it! :)
Flying to see college friends this weekend! Thanks for the reminder to look for the stories as I do!
The only part of our up-coming vacation I’ve been dreading is the airport “stuff.” You have given me a whole new perspective. Thank you Lisa-Jo.
glad you got home safe friend :)