Monday, 10 June 2024
Dear Friends and Family,
Saturday, I stood at the arrival gate at Noi Bai
International Hanoi Airport waiting for Lee to come through the arrival doors. At least I was inside where there was air
con, but we had been unable to connect by text as his phone was not set up with
a sim card yet, and I felt a certain amount of tension that I would somehow
miss him. So, I made sure I was at the arrival area before his flight even
landed.
The arrival gate is as chaotic a place as can be with taxi drivers hustling for a fare, and gobs of people waiting on the first glimpse of their family and friends.
Here are pics of just some of the bouquets. I had to reach out and touch the petals of one as it was hard to believe they were even real!
There are metal railings to keep a central pathway open from
the sliding doors at Customs so that people arriving can somewhat clearly
navigate a path towards the exit doors.
However, people are easily 4 deep on either side with children pushing
one another, toddling about, or cradled sleeping in the arms of a parent/
family member. The little girls are
dressed to the 9’s with fluffy organza dresses and bows galore.
I found myself tearing up as elderly men and women would exit the Customs area and be descended upon by loved ones. Often there was crying and clasping of faces, forehead to forehead touching in greeting. Then there was one reunion that I found particularly interesting and meaningful. A man, probably mid- late- 40’s along with a cousin or brother of similar age, enthusiastically greeting a young man between age 18-21. The one man, quite obviously the father, grabbed his son in both arms, giving him a crushing hug and the father patted his son’s face with both hands. But the son did not reciprocate, looking somewhat embarrassed by the outpouring of emotion. He tossed his bangs back with a rather practiced air and extricated himself from the embrace, pushing the trolley forward with his luggage towards the exit. The father was neither put out nor affronted, but rather he touched the back of his son’s stylish hair, looked at his brother- cousin and smiled, pointing as if to say, “He’s grown up and looks good. Doesn’t he?” To which his brother/ cousin- smiling voraciously, nodded in agreement.
Where had the son been? Away at an international university? Maybe a study abroad? Obviously, he had been gone for a period of time given the exuberance of the greeting. While it would have been lovely to see the young man return his father’s affection, in pondering the moment, I realize that is often the way it is, particularly with children at this age. They see themselves as quite grown up and beyond the boundaries to which they were once so closely tied to their parents. Yet, for us parents, we seize these moments, not to bind our children to us but to attest our unfailing love for them, no matter where they go and no matter what they do. Hopefully, the young man will come to realize this sooner rather than later.
But for now? My heart
skipped a beat as the fedora wearing dude of my heart, with his linen jacket
over one arm, came through those doors, looking exhausted but searching the sea
of faces for me. I suspect there were at
least three TikTok videos made of our reunion as I rushed down the walkway to
greet him. That first hug is always the best for wherever the two of us are
together…. That is home.
Wishing you peace,
Karen
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