If you ever think there isn’t much love in this world, you should take a trip to your local airport.
This weekend was my dad’s retirement party, so I went to the airport to pick up a few relatives. I waited for them in the designated passenger pickup lounge for a good 10 or 15 minutes. In that brief time, I witnessed countless reunions of families (including a solider returning from Iraq), parents and children, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives. I saw ecstatic tears of elation, hugs and prolonged and impassioned kisses.
In short, it gave me hope for the world. 
Being physically apart from Scotty Dynamo has been a great learning experience. As demonstrated by the many airport strangers, distance gives you a new found appreciation for your loved ones and relationships. I feel that with Dynamo. It teaches me you not to take for granted the short time you share.
But it shouldn’t take airport reunions to provoke the expression of that kind of appreciation and love. If we feel such unbounded love for the important people in our lives, why should we save its articulation for such rare and unusual circumstances?
When (and if) Scotty Dynamo makes a December trip to Rhode Island, we’ll have a jubilant airport reunion to rival the very best of them. But today, in this very moment, I’m committed to extending the overjoyed expression of love to all my relationships, near and far. I don’t need the challenge of distance to remind me of the importance of each of my relationships.
October 26, 2008 at 5:53 am
hahaha… okay, you probably really miss him soooo badly!
okay that was full of exaggeration…
October 26, 2008 at 7:35 am
As the saying goes: “Distance makes the heart grow fonder”
As well as “You don’t miss something until it’s gone”
But as long as neither quotes remain permanent, hope remains.
October 26, 2008 at 7:45 am
The “airport/back from the military/Iraq/overseas” scene is indeed very moving. I live in Baltimore (where most overseas military flights land). Many times in going to pick him up my brother who has been stationed overseas for awhile, I have witnessed the many family members gathered to welcome their loved one’s home. Yet, most of the troops aren’t from Baltimore and don’t have family/friends to welcome them as they are just passing thru connecting to another flight to their home. Yet, after going thru immigration security and exiting one at a time; for each and everyone, those gathered applaud in appreciation for the sacrifices they make. It is indeed very moving. And then when a local comes home and their family/friends are there . . . the applaud gives way to tears of joy, very moving, let’s pray they all come home soon . . . (and that you and Scotty can experience that “coming back home” experience with each other soon too)
October 26, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I can only imagine how beautiful that must be. Let’s make love, not war.
Will there ever be peace in this world? And it saddens me that religion is often the excuse for oppression. It is historic.
October 26, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Joey:
Amen bro!!
Let’s hope that all of our troops will be home safely, and that soon we can welcome all of the, home!!
B
USMA 1996
October 26, 2008 at 8:28 am
Very well written, lord you must miss Nick a lot. I guess I miss my mates or my family some what when I will go away for college. But its as you said, a learning experience, for me knowing that I have to survive on my own and all. I’ll be gone for a while from the world of the internet. B/c of moving to another place , just letting you know Davey. Cheers!!!
October 26, 2008 at 8:55 am
very moving i wish i had someone to miss me wail i was away from RI well my cat counts right
October 26, 2008 at 9:27 am
Nicely stated as usual. The airport concept is also used as the opening and closing for the movie Love Actually. Which for the most part is a nice movie, not great, but truely worth watching.
October 26, 2008 at 9:42 pm
LOL JPA – I noticed the Love Actually connection as well. It’s one of my favourite Christmas-time films. It didn’t win an Academy Award but it certainly warms the heart.
October 26, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I witness that scene everyday Davey! I work at the PVD airport. I have seen even more then the average welcome home/great to see you greeting as well. People are not ashamed to get it on in the airport!
October 26, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Wow “the airport moment” it’s a beautiful moment, I’m sure pretty much everyone would agree. That moment in time really does show the unlimited love that there is in the world or at least the potentially unlimited love there could be in the world. You know were more “airport moments” are needed? R/ in Iraq, Kenya, Cambodia, China, Japan, The Untied States, etc. right now we could all use a little bit more of love. I know the global tragedies we face today have been going on for years; wars, famine, murder, rape, brutality etc. – the only thing is that in some way we have increased them. that’s why we really need more LOVE in this world because it might seem dime but there’s still a light at the end of the tunnel.
October 26, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Beautiful post Davey. You know how to spread the love.
October 26, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Treasure every moment of the gift of life and love!
October 26, 2008 at 2:31 pm
They are there with us, all day every day, relationships. Whether near or far, those people and that time we share should be cherished and remembered with fondness. They distance makes the heart grow fonder, but it’s also that time, and space, and inner experience we delve into that makes the heart grow fonder and realize that we need that human interaction on a very deep and personal level.
Great post Davey!
Ciao – J
October 26, 2008 at 3:19 pm
When I went to see the Osmonds perform in Perth in June, no one was there to see me leave. But on my return, two days later, all my friends were there, to greet me at the airport. It was one of the most rivoting and enjoyable moments of my life to see my friends turn out to meet me. We all lost the plot at the airport.
October 26, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I lived in Japan for a little over two years and I didn’t come home once during that time. None of my family came to visit either but I was so caught up in all the things to see and do in the country that I didn’t mind. After I moved back to the US, I almost had trouble comprehending how many friends and family members died while I was away. Now I stay in better contact and I never hesitate to get in contact with my family.
October 26, 2008 at 4:29 pm
One of my favorite quotes: “Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans a blaze.”
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
October 26, 2008 at 4:55 pm
That will happen (in December) and I hope you will share that reunion with us :-p
October 26, 2008 at 6:48 pm
David,
It is great and I consider as a personal feat to write about the comings and goings of anonymous people getting together again in the passenger pickup lounge of a local airport to finally come to the obviousness that you’re missing your friend Scotty whom you have shared so much good time with.
It’s cruel to see people kissing each other when, inside, you personally miss somebody. Seeing such scenes you certainly had a lump in your throat! And to know you can’t be by his side didn’t help too.
You certainly regretted you can’t be in touch with Scotty precisely at that instant.
Wait until December David! His arrival will be your Christmas gift!
bye,
October 26, 2008 at 9:12 pm
TF Green and the Bruce Sundlun terminal in the motha f-n hizzzouse.
October 26, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Check out “Carlkr” he is so hot!
October 27, 2008 at 12:19 am
L’absence diminue les médiocres passions et augmente les grandes, comme le vent éteint les bougies et allume le feu.
October 27, 2008 at 1:29 am
…mais pour peu que nous négligions d’alimenter par notre présence ce feu et notre mémoire, avec le temps, se chargera de réduire en cendres lentement mais assurément la plus vive des passions.
October 27, 2008 at 1:12 am
Well Dave, I read your blog every now and then and I love this entry. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer one month ago today. I miss her so much. She was diagnosed in August of 2007. My Dad, brothers, sister and I did and said things we never would have had we not known she was dying. Don’t ever take the time you have with loved ones or friends for granted. Don’t be afraid to express how much they mean to you. Enjoy the quality time you have with family and friends.
And as for whether or not Scotty Dynamo will visit in December? Get your butt on a plane and go see him. Even if it’s just over night.
October 27, 2008 at 4:03 am
Heya,
I’ve seen your blog and I like it. You seem to be a nice guy.
You are living in Toronto but where do you come from?
Warm regards from Hamburg’
Peter
October 27, 2008 at 4:05 am
….oh sorry – here a correction of my blog.
cheers.
October 27, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I go to many airport and i see this at every airport i go!
It makes me feel great that i have brought a passenger safe back to its family!
And feel great when people come meet you when you are back froma trip that maybe for some reason you wouldn’t of been able to come back!
Also by passing through many airports i see alot of EYE f**k!
October 28, 2008 at 10:19 am
I wouldn’t trade an airport reunion for the world. I don’t think people are saying there love, but when you actually see the person that you haven’t had physical contact with for a while: it brings out a certain emotion.
April 14, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I want to say – thank you for this!