Holiday Arrivals
Though the moments of greater travel were last week as people scrambled to be home with family for Christmas, there are still people travelling home for the New Year. My brother-in-law and his girls came to spend that holiday with the grandparents. We went to pick them up at the airport last night.
Theirs was the last flight into Santiago for the night. As we awaited them, others arrived through the door. The first one out was a youngish woman. She walked up to an older man and a little boy and a big smile lit up her face when she saw the boy's reaction. Another woman, close to her in age, shouted, "No!" She backed away, then ran into the traveller's arms, and the two engaged in a prolonged bear hug. Apparently, the traveller and the man who seemed to be her father had made her believe they were awaiting someone else. It was a surprise that made many around them smile in complicity.
Others started straggling out. Some were older couples, who appeared through the door and then disappeared down the hallway with no one to await them. They had most likely visited family and were now back to claim their long-term parked cars. A woman came out, saw a man, and they kissed each other warmly. Who knows why they had been apart, family? A job? Children came out and greeted grandparents and aunts and uncles. Smiles and laughs filled the arrivals area. A woman came out pushing the luggage cart that contained a suitcase and a girl. A smaller boy came running from the waiting area and greeted the girl. A long-awaited cousin, perhaps?
My brother-in-law and his two girls came out toward the end. I don't know why, but every time we go pick them up at the airport, they seem to be among the last ones out. Or, that's what it seems to us. They were tired; it was after midnight. On the long ride home, the younger girl slept in her sister's lap. When we arrived at the village, we played a trick on my mother-in-law. She had been told they were coming, but two days later. We parked in front of the house, and my husband called and woke her up, asking her to open the door. My brother-in-law hid, we stayed in the car, and when she opened the door, he stepped out and hugged her. Her mouth became a perfect "o". Half-asleep as she was, it was a double surprise.
The reverse of tonight, of course, will be in the departures area, when we wave them back through the security checkpoint, and watch them melt with the other passengers on their way to the gate. Then we will be surrounded by people stretching their necks along with us, hoping to catch a last glimpse of loved ones. But that won't be for another couple of weeks. In the meantime, we have a New Year to celebrate together.
Theirs was the last flight into Santiago for the night. As we awaited them, others arrived through the door. The first one out was a youngish woman. She walked up to an older man and a little boy and a big smile lit up her face when she saw the boy's reaction. Another woman, close to her in age, shouted, "No!" She backed away, then ran into the traveller's arms, and the two engaged in a prolonged bear hug. Apparently, the traveller and the man who seemed to be her father had made her believe they were awaiting someone else. It was a surprise that made many around them smile in complicity.
Others started straggling out. Some were older couples, who appeared through the door and then disappeared down the hallway with no one to await them. They had most likely visited family and were now back to claim their long-term parked cars. A woman came out, saw a man, and they kissed each other warmly. Who knows why they had been apart, family? A job? Children came out and greeted grandparents and aunts and uncles. Smiles and laughs filled the arrivals area. A woman came out pushing the luggage cart that contained a suitcase and a girl. A smaller boy came running from the waiting area and greeted the girl. A long-awaited cousin, perhaps?
My brother-in-law and his two girls came out toward the end. I don't know why, but every time we go pick them up at the airport, they seem to be among the last ones out. Or, that's what it seems to us. They were tired; it was after midnight. On the long ride home, the younger girl slept in her sister's lap. When we arrived at the village, we played a trick on my mother-in-law. She had been told they were coming, but two days later. We parked in front of the house, and my husband called and woke her up, asking her to open the door. My brother-in-law hid, we stayed in the car, and when she opened the door, he stepped out and hugged her. Her mouth became a perfect "o". Half-asleep as she was, it was a double surprise.
The reverse of tonight, of course, will be in the departures area, when we wave them back through the security checkpoint, and watch them melt with the other passengers on their way to the gate. Then we will be surrounded by people stretching their necks along with us, hoping to catch a last glimpse of loved ones. But that won't be for another couple of weeks. In the meantime, we have a New Year to celebrate together.
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