by Jo Barnes –
The Victoria International Airport is a busy place where people come and go as daily flights arrive and depart. Travellers move with determination to make connections or wait anxiously for loved ones to arrive. Airports are places of joy and sadness, departures and reunions. Everyone has a story, and it’s here that we’ll be sharing some of them.
When preparing to meet a friend or family member at the airport, people do a variety of things. Some dress well to look their best; others stand at the gate, camera in hand. And others bring a very special greeting for a loved one.
Despite the traces of snow on the ground outside, it’s a beautiful sunny morning in Arrivals. A mom and son waiting in the room repeatedly catch the eyes of passers-by. It’s neither their winter clothing styles nor their voices that grab attention. It’s the instant conversation starter in their hands: a large neon green sign that says “Welcome Uncle Moe!”
“We’re waiting for a good friend, Matt Granger,” says Briana Fania. “He’s flying in from London Ontario.”
Sitting in his stroller is Briana’s son Luciano. All bundled up in his snow gear, he sits wide-eyed with a soother in his mouth and smiles at the mention of Matt’s name.
“Matt is married to my cousin. He knows my son really well,” says Briana. “He’s here for the weekend and I’m going to show him around Victoria.”
Soon Matt comes through the gate and grins from ear to ear at the sight of the cheery handmade welcome sign. Hugs and greetings are exchanged, and the happy trio depart down the corridor towards the luggage area.
Reunions at the airport are happy moments that can be enhanced with gifts, flowers, or even a bright green sign for Uncle Moe.
At the airport it’s heartwarming to watch a parent reconnecting with a child, or spouses reuniting. But somehow the sight of a grandparent reconnecting with a grandchild is a special one, especially when the child is very young.
A woman sits quietly in the Arrivals area looking at her cell phone. It soon becomes clear she’s finding it harder to concentrate on the screen as her excitement grows.
“I’m waiting for my son and granddaughter,” shares Trish Proctor.
She has travelled down island from Chemainus to pick up her son Kevin, his wife Malaya and their very young daughter Penny.
Says Trish: “My granddaughter is 18 months old. I saw her last summer but she’ll have changed a lot since then.”
While the family members have visited each other over the last months, it has only been a virtual experience using Skype. The prospect of a face-to-face visit with each other is exciting.
“I’m really looking forward to just getting reacquainted with Penny!” says Trish, adding with a quiver in her voice: “right now I feel myself welling up and getting emotional.”
Trish sports a leg cast on one leg, but moves off easily enough when she catches sight of three familiar faces approaching. Like many at Arrivals, the group shares greetings and hugs. But it’s the grandma-to-granddaughter connection that’s a special sight to see. As grandma reaches out her hand toward the little one, the joy on both faces defies description. It’s yet another wordless moment that makes the arrivals gate a special place.
Whether it’s unique cultures, exotic locations or fascinating people, travelling to new places is exciting. But even if you’ve travelled to the ends of the earth, there’s nothing like returning home to family and friends … especially the four-legged kind.
A small dog is quietly nestled at a man’s feet but draws near quickly, enthusiastically waving its tail.
“He’s a miniature schnauzer; his name is Oliver,” shares Lawrence Haave.
Lawrence is waiting for friend and neighbour Carole Elliott; the dog belongs to her. Only a few minutes into the interview, a woman approaches wanting to pet the dog. Oliver is a lovely animal and repeatedly attracts attention.
“Yes, he’s very friendly. Carole misses her dog very badly,” says Lawrence.
Carole has been away for three weeks.
“She’s coming in from Antarctica by way of Chile, Toronto and Vancouver,” he says. The word Antarctica seems to hang in the air – it’s not a destination to which many travel. But Carole, it seems, is an avid traveller.
Says Lawrence: “She’s travelled the Northwest Passage, she’s travelled the Nile and she’s travelled the Amazon.”
Lawrence shares that he himself doesn’t travel much, but prefers to sail year round on his sailboat. Carole is his sailing crew.
Both Lawrence and Oliver have missed their friend.
“I’m looking forward to her smile,” says Lawrence.
Soon the wait is over; Carole arrives through the gate. It’s a happy moment, particularly for one small dog that enjoys a long-awaited cuddle from its owner.
