At this time of year most people associate airports with going on holiday. For our family airports have always brought mixed emotions.
The downside is when you are driving your husband there to catch a flight to join his ship. You try to stay calm and cheerful and not think of how long it will be before you are together again. Once the check in is over you hope there will be no hold-ups as it is hard enough without any delays prolonging the agony of saying goodbye. Now I know where the saying “the long goodbye” comes from. Once the boarding pass is in their hands their minds turn to what am I going out to, how long a handover will I get etc. Everyone is trying hard not to show that they are upset and in the end you act like you can’t wait to get rid of him! I used to wait until the plane took off before heading home or to be truthfully, for a little bit of retail therapy! Nothing cheers you up more than a new outfit or two – then when he comes home and asks is that new? You can truthfully say no I have had that for ages! Got caught out one time as he was sent home after a few weeks – in fact he was home before the Visa bill came in! I seem to have spent most of my married life trying to clear the Visa and lose two stones in weight before he arrived back. It has always been a running joke between us.
Then the other extreme – The Arrival. Can you relate to the stomach churning excitement, the anticipation, the anxiety in case they missed their flight?
In the few days before they arrive home you have worked like a Trojan making the house shines like a new pin (real reason you do that is so the time passes quickly) doesn’t matter that as soon as they step in the door the place is like a disaster zone! We were always at the airport too early but it all added to the excitement. Daft thoughts run though your mind – will he recognise me, will he still find me attractive or worse will I recognise him!! Of course all this flies out the window when you get a glimpse of him. As usual he is almost last off the plane and by this time you have convinced yourself that he missed the flight! That hello kiss and cuddle is just magical and you can’t stop grinning like a Cheshire cat – just like falling in love all over again.