I always thought the airport was a prettty cool place. After we moved to Arizona when I was 8, I especially thought it was great because it was the place to go to that could bring me back "home" to the place I felt the most secure. That was, UNTIL, I had to leave and go back to Arizona! Every time, I would be elated to get to go to the airport to travel to see my family who lived here in Ohio still. But, at the end of that much anticipated trip, I would be crying my eyes out about going to the exact same place that held so much joy for me only days before! It was then that I began to realize that the airport was a bittersweet place. And often times, it is very melancholy. While you're glad to go somewhere, that "UNTIL" always arrives. When we moved back to Ohio, I thought to myself, "Whew, I am so glad that I won't be crying like a nut at the airport anymore! Those days are so behind me!!!" Boy was I wrong!!! I was right about the joy. It's so exciting to get to go somewhere, but for me, it's equally as exciting to go and pick up friends and family who are coming to visit me for a bit! But, that UNTIL always happens, and usually way too quickly for me! I hadn't figured in that my best friend would be coming and going from the airport from Arizona to here. That first time we dropped Suzanne off after she helped me drive here, was the worst! So horrible! It was as she was leaving that I realized that I had been wrong, and that I would STILL be crying at the airport! Geez! I will never forget that day or that realization. I am so glad that Matt & Suzanne got to come to surprise me and visit us for 9 days. It was wonderful to see them, and chat, catch up, spend some time together. The boys absolutely loved it! But, in life, all good things must come to an end. We took them to the airport last Saturday, the 11th. I told myself that I wasn't going to cry. I didn't need complete strangers staring at me. I didn't need to be crying in front of the boys, and make them worry. So, I told myself that this time was going to be different. I swear, that security line gets closer and closer to the darn door every time we go to the airport! Soon, it'll be 5 miles from the place! I'm just bitter, because that is the point where the final goodbye has to take place, and it's so quick after getting there! Anyhow, we said our goodbyes, and Jackson said to me, "It's not fair, it feels like they've only been here for 5 minutes!" I held my "no crying" ground,
and said, "Yes, I think you're right Jackson." The McCraw's wound their way through the line, closer to the security tunnels, and then Jackson said, "Mommy, my throat hurts, it burns and feels tight." And, I looked down at him and saw the beginnings of tears in those big brown eyes. It was almost unbearable to watch! But, I choked back my own, and said, "I know exactly what you mean, Jackson, my throat hurts too. Just like yours." I gave him a weak smile, and hugged him. Noah snapped the pictures of them going through the airport shuffle. We always stay until we can't see them anymore. That's just me being silly. I want to squeeze out every minute I can, even if it means standing there like a fool waving. We caught the last glimmers of our friends, and left the building. I did it! I didn't cry this time! I got in the car, and as we pulled away, I looked at my sweet son's face, and just was so touched that he was like me, and felt the same ache I felt. And, well, you guessed it, I completely lost it and started bawling right there in the backseat. What a baby! Oh well, at least I made it out of the building this time, I guess!! I am already anxiously awaiting the next "arrival" and can't wait to go to the airport again, because I know that this time it'll be the joy part. But, until then, I've got the wonderful memories of our friends coming and visiting, and all of the fun things we shared, laughter we laughed together, and fond memories we got to create. I am so thankful for that. And, despite it all, I'm even a little thankful for airports!
I always thought the airport was a prettty cool place. After we moved to Arizona when I was 8, I especially thought it was great because it was the place to go to that could bring me back "home" to the place I felt the most secure. That was, UNTIL, I had to leave and go back to Arizona! Every time, I would be elated to get to go to the airport to travel to see my family who lived here in Ohio still. But, at the end of that much anticipated trip, I would be crying my eyes out about going to the exact same place that held so much joy for me only days before! It was then that I began to realize that the airport was a bittersweet place. And often times, it is very melancholy. While you're glad to go somewhere, that "UNTIL" always arrives. When we moved back to Ohio, I thought to myself, "Whew, I am so glad that I won't be crying like a nut at the airport anymore! Those days are so behind me!!!" Boy was I wrong!!! I was right about the joy. It's so exciting to get to go somewhere, but for me, it's equally as exciting to go and pick up friends and family who are coming to visit me for a bit! But, that UNTIL always happens, and usually way too quickly for me! I hadn't figured in that my best friend would be coming and going from the airport from Arizona to here. That first time we dropped Suzanne off after she helped me drive here, was the worst! So horrible! It was as she was leaving that I realized that I had been wrong, and that I would STILL be crying at the airport! Geez! I will never forget that day or that realization. I am so glad that Matt & Suzanne got to come to surprise me and visit us for 9 days. It was wonderful to see them, and chat, catch up, spend some time together. The boys absolutely loved it! But, in life, all good things must come to an end. We took them to the airport last Saturday, the 11th. I told myself that I wasn't going to cry. I didn't need complete strangers staring at me. I didn't need to be crying in front of the boys, and make them worry. So, I told myself that this time was going to be different. I swear, that security line gets closer and closer to the darn door every time we go to the airport! Soon, it'll be 5 miles from the place! I'm just bitter, because that is the point where the final goodbye has to take place, and it's so quick after getting there! Anyhow, we said our goodbyes, and Jackson said to me, "It's not fair, it feels like they've only been here for 5 minutes!" I held my "no crying" ground,
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