I’ve been traveling (and moping) a lot lately. Wyclef Jean’s “Gone Till November”
To break the monotony of unemployment, I flew to both homes last month. A week or so in Phoenix, a few days in Nashville, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandmas, friends, babies, bbq and lots of fresh fruit, a proper vacation. Of course, everyone asked me how things were going and the like but everyone (except for my father) only asked once. They pretended to accept my well-rehearsed, positive yet realistic response and let it drop. Ah, family. 🙂
Because I’ve been moping around a lot lately, I’ve started to notice things that could be better but never really mattered before like someone being there to meet me at the airport. Of course, when I’m traveling to see someone, family or friend, there’s always someone there to pick me up. But they’re always in their cars.
I’ve traveled 4-6 times a year for the last 20 years of my life. With parents on different sides of the country and later attending a university in another part of the country, flying has just been a part of what I do. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever flown to go on a vacation with my family, just to go see them. I can distinctly remember thinking how cool it was to be taken care of by the stewardesses (oh excuse me, flight attendants), meeting the pilots, being able to push the attendant button for just about anything I needed. When I was about 6, I remember there was this really sweet stewardess who let me help her serve the drinks. That was when you always got a full can, not just poured glasses. This really scruffy looking guy ordered something alcoholic and let ME keep the change. I felt so special. Haha.
Anyway, back in those days (and probably because I was a minor), people always met you at the gate. My parents were always there and it felt special to be able to look for someone instead of just go collect your luggage. When all of the rules changed, I was already a teenager and didn’t necessarily want my parents to meet me at the gate. I enjoyed the sense of independence. Plus, just meeting me outside is much easier for the people collecting me. As long as we’ve got our cell phones, we’re golden.
However, these recent trips made me think about the feeling of being able to look for someone. I always smile as I pass the security stations and see family and friends with signs welcoming home the soldiers, students, whatever. The anxious boyfriends with flowers. The mother/father with little kids straining to be the first one to see him/her. It’s just so sweet. Someone is that excited to welcome someone home. (In fact, I can distinctly remember the last time someone met me at the airport. It was in high school and a “boyfriend” wanted to see me. He didn’t even drive me home because my mother had arranged to come pick me up. He can just to see me. How sweet…)
Now, I’m not saying that my family and friends aren’t excited to see me. (At least, I’d like to believe they are.) I just think we don’t feel the need to do more than the minimum. We can hug in the car. Catch up as we’re driving home. When I pick people up at the airport, I don’t ever park and wait (unless their flight is running late and then I just wait in the parking lot). We all just pull up to the curb nowadays. What’s up with that? Are our relationships not worth getting out of the car anymore? The first 30 minutes are usually free. It won’t necessarily have to cost us anything but the effort. I can’t complain if I don’t step it up myself. I just wonder if anyone else would care as much as I do…
Re-evaluating airport curbside service,
Jo’van
The Truth: According to Jo'van 