Airport Moment

This morning I took advantage of my flexible schedule to be a great friend and pick up my doppelgänger from the airport. It's always a struggle picking someone from the airport; in most situations, you have to worry about the flight being delayed (or the rare early arrival) and expensive short term parking even if it for 10 minutes. Luckily Fort Wayne International has a great up to 30-minute short term parking so I didn't have much to worry about.

While waiting outside the security checkpoint, I observed an entire family being peppy and extremely eager for someone to arrive. I can't help but eavesdrop because of the lack of interesting things at the small airport and their use of their outdoor voices inside. I hear a woman in her twenties say "He said he's going to be running out of the terminal!" to her father who was recording the empty escalator leading to the exit with his cellphone. Then, they go on to speak about how his tour went; it suddenly made much more sense; he was in the military. As I look at the screen to see if the arrival flight has been delayed, I see something like Sonic the Hedgehog in the peripheral coming towards the exit on the escalator. It was the solider the family has been waiting for and he quickly bear-hugged his significant other. I wouldn't have been surprised if the father missed the approach because of how fast he came.

While it's not a solider surprising their children at school in a disguise or even a highly publicized surprise comeback for a holiday, it was a heartwarming moment; it definitely made my day. The fact that non-flyers are no longer allowed at the gate terminals may have made this moment possible and more emotional. It's amazing to see the joy and love of the family being reunited with a family member that just served our country to protect freedom for Americans and numerous others. As Independence Day approaches, we must remember to be appreciative for those who protect our rights and that not every soldier and family gets an opportunity for a moment like I saw this morning.