Linda (unicorn@unicorn.indenial.com)
Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:48:29 -0500 (EST)
"Homecoming"
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland,
Oregon, I had one of those life changing experiences that
you hear other people talk about, the kind that sneaks up
on you unexpectedly.
This one occurred a mere two feet away from me.
Straining to locate my friend among the passengers
deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a an coming
toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right
next to me to greet his family.
First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years
old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a
long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in
each other's face, I heard the father say, "It's so good
to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled
somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly,
"Me, too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest
son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his son's
face in his hands said, "You're already quite the young
man. I love you very much, Zach!" They too hugged a
most loving, tender hug.
While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or
one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mother's
arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful
sight of her returning father. The man said, "Hi, baby girl!"
as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly
kissed her face all over and then held her close to his
chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl
instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder,
motionless in pure contentment.
After several moments, he handed his daughter to his
oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best for last,"
and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most
passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into
her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed,
"I love you so much!" They stared at each other's eyes,
beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both
hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds,
but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't
possibly be.
I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally
engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional
love not more than an arm's length away from me. I
suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something
sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously
ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?"
"Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of
those," he replied, without breaking his gaze from his
lovely wife's face.
"Well, then, how long have you been away?" I asked.
The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming
his joyous smile.
Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting,
I had assumed he'd been gone for at least several weeks,
if not months. I know my expression betrayed me, I said
almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some
semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my
friend), "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after
twelve years!".
The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight
in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my
soul, he told me something that left me a different person.
He told me, "Don't hope, friend ... decide!"
Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my
hand and said, "G-d bless!" With that, he and his family
turned and strode away together. I was still watching that
exceptional man and his special family walk just out of
sight when my friend came up to me and asked, "What'cha
looking at?"
Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty,
I replied, "My future!"
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Tue Mar 09 1999 - 09:00:02 EST