Coming Home

Gate 2.  I have formed a love/hate relationship with gate 2. 

Beaumont is a small airport, and we always arrive and depart from gate 2.  I have never seen gate 1.  Or, I have always been so excited that I zoomed past or sad that I overlooked a second gate.  Either way, Gate 2 all the way!! I am forming many memories with Gate 2.

Once, we were so excited when we arrived, we forgot to stop and get our checked bags.  We were about to have a seat in the rental car, when I finally realized that I had no clothes in tow.  “Our luggage!” I exclaimed.  Once again, I am sure Brian was a bit perturbed at my bucket of hair products that I “can’t live without” which required us to check bags in the first place.  Regardless, Brian being Brian, volunteered to go grab them, while I pulled the car around. 

A second time, I recall being the first to arrive at Gate 2 --  the very first to go through the security line.  I had never given any thought to “who” showed up first at the airport in the mornings as I am accustom to flying from a larger airport, such as Eppley Field or DFW, but this particular morning, Brian and I were first.  I wasn’t eager to get home; it was the first flight out, and Cole was sleeping.  I was not Gate 2’s friend this day.  In fact, I cried when I saw it. 

Today, Cole will meet Gate 2.  In fact, he should be sitting in one of the seats right now.  I wonder which one.  I can picture him sitting there as I saw the athlete from OU once or the young man in the service on his way back to somewhere.  Will he look lonely?  I hope his travel mates will say a quick prayer for safe travels and an easy plane change in DFW.  

I wonder if Cole will develop the same love/hate relationship.  I am so very excited to have my Cardinal home for the first time!  It will be a whirlwind of a weekend, but we will make each moment count until he returns to Gate 2.