| | Today, I think I came closer to understanding something, I in no way profess to completely understand it, but I have a little more empathy for it all. Picture an airport gate. All the black pleather chairs lined up in their rows, waiting for the passengers on the next flight to check in. In the center of the gate waiting area, a mother and a father sitting across from someone I can only assume to be their son. The son was no younger than 19, no older than 24. A young man, in good physical condition and appears to have a bright future ahead of him. However, this future is now overshadowed with uncertainty. You see, this young man was wearing camouflage BDU’s and had a military issue rucksack sitting at his feet.
It was obvious that their son had been called into duty. All three sitting in silence, which was occasionally interrupted by a comment or joke, anything to lighten the mood and take their minds off of where this young man was going after he landed in Dallas-Fort Worth. It all seemed to be a very solemn final moment together, almost as if they were in church praying. Who knows, although this airport terminal was no church, maybe they were praying. Praying for a safe flight to his destination, praying that he be safe no matter where he ends up, or praying for a safe return home in the not too distant future.
Then it came time to board the plane.
The son slowly stands up from his seat, putting on a brave face for his parents, but at the same time, refusing to make eye contact with either one. Almost as if doing so will cause that emotion stoic wall to come crashing down causing him to weep the way a child would when being left at school for the very first time. His parents stand, and after hugging him goodbye, he slowly makes his way over to the line to board the flight.
As he stands in line, waiting to walk down the gangway to the plane, his mother and father look on. Standing side by side next to their seats in the gate area, watching their son creep slowly up to the podium where his ticket will be torn. Mom and dad soon loose site of their son behind the wall of the check-in counter. Mom hurriedly moves behind the wall to spend every possible second with her son before he boards the plane. Dad soon follows mom, coming up behind her and placing both of his reassuring hands on her shoulders, as if to say, “Our boy will be fine…don’t worry.” The mom then yells something to her son. What…I have no idea, I can only guess. She could have asked if he had his ticket, secretly hoping he might have forgotten it, allowing her a few more precious moments with her baby. Or maybe, she just simple said, “I love you.” Eventually the boy reached the door leading down to the airplane, his parents can go no further. As he reaches the threshold, he turns back to his parents and waves goodbye. The parents immediately return the gesture, and their son disappears down the gangway. Mom and dad, both fighting back tears, about face and head back home.
I honestly don’t know why I felt the need to tell this story, perhaps, because it was a very poignant end to my vacation. More importantly, it coupled an emotion with something I had previously never experienced. I have never had to send off a loved on through that doorway. My only experience is what I have heard on the television. It all makes it seem so distant, something that would never affect myself, but it should. It took that little instance to make me realize that what I have, my loved ones, sometimes get taken for granted. That moment made me realize that what little time is actually spent with your family and friends should be cherished, because you never know when it will be your turn to walk through that door and wave goodbye to the people you love…possibly for the last time.
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| | Posted 8/2/2006 1:01 AM - 1 View - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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