WAITING IN THE CELL PHONE LOT at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport late Thursday morning, I watched plane after plane after plane land and take-off.
Mostly, though, I focused my eyes on planes flying in from the east. A United Airlines flight would bring my 21-year-old son home from Boston, via Washington D.C.
He always takes connecting flights to save money. And he usually flies Southwest. But this time, for whatever reason (probably cost), he chose United.
More than five months have passed since I’ve seen my son, a senior at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Too long. Too many miles between us. I am grateful, though, for text messages, phone calls, emails and Skype.
On this bone-chilling December morning, I waited, with my husband scratching numbers into his Sudoku book, me photographing planes arriving and leaving MSP. I wondered a few times if security was watching me, questioning why the woman inside the white van was photographing planes.
Finally, I spotted a United Express flight that matched the son’s text message description from DC: “I’m on a tiny plane to Minneapolis. I had to walk out into the tarmac in order to board.”
Soon my cell phone buzzed with the news that he had landed. And then we waited another 32 minutes for his message to drive to Terminal 1 for pick-up at Door 5.
He is home now as I write this at 2:40 p.m. Thursday. He’s fed. Dirty clothes are in the wash. I am a happy mama.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Tears of joy here for you!!!!! ‘Nuff said.
Thank you, Doreen.
It’s all about family. Glad a part of yours is back home safe and sound.
So am I. Thank you, Dan.
Glad to hear your son made it home safely to be with the family for the holidays 🙂 Great Captures – Happy Weekend – Enjoy!
Yes, I’m happy to have him home. Just as I’m sure your family was happy to have you back in Minnesota recently.
Yes they were happy and it was a bit of a surprise too! We have family rolling in down here after the New Year. We are hoping they like it down here 🙂
Oh, I bet they will given the warmth and sunshine. Coming from Minnesota?
Not coming from MN – from Arkansas and Arizona.
Ah, OK. Enjoy your time with them.
Enjoy Your Time with Your Family as well 🙂 Time is oh so precious as we continue to age, so need to soak it in and savor it!
Sounds like you’re a happy Momma! Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you. Enjoy your family gathering this weekend.
I dont know who’s more excited…. you or me, Ha ha. I guess just knowing how happy your mamma heart is make me so happy for you!!! Glad you have Caleb home, safe and sound. P.S. How is that he is already a Senior, crazy how time flies. Enjoy this sweet time with your boy.
I intend to enjoy every minute with him.
Enjoy your time together with friends and family this holiday season.
Thank you. You, too, Sue.
An airplane is truly a time machine. It allows families to come together in the shortest period of time yet spend the most time together.
Holiday time equals family time, enjoy every minute of it!
I intend to savor every moment with my dear son and other family I see during the holidays.
Oh, that is the best part about the holidays, isn’t it? Those kids who come home to us. Enjoy every moment.
Yup, we mamas like to have our “kids” back home. Mine won’t all be here for Christmas, but the weekend after. Have to share them now with distant in-laws and with work and…
And that’s the tricky bit. Reminding ourselves that the holidays are all about sharing what and who we love. Merry Christmas, Audrey!
Yes, it is sometimes difficult to share. But we have to think beyond ourselves and of others. Merry Christmas to you and your family also, Kathleen!
I’m smiling BIG for you… so happy your son is home. Have a wonderful Christmas Audrey. 🙂
Thank you. May your Christmas be a wonderful one also.
How lovely to have him home after so long! What a fabulous Christmas you will have. Your children are so spread out across the States; it must be such a thrill when they begin to head home. Enjoy every minute he’s with you xx
I am happy to have him home for awhile. We’ll all be together for a day on New Year’s weekend. Not nearly enough time. But I will take whatever time I can get with them.
Horray! (And I’m betting you didn’t look too scary to security!)
Apparently not as no one stopped to check me out.