The Best Part

Here we are, waiting for my brother Matthew to get back from his two year mission to the Philippines. I walked into the airport with my little girls and random members of my family kept popping up, until we had gathered a large and motley group of relatives and almost-relatives to welcome our long-lost brother. Matthew's plane was a little late, so by the time he arrived, his welcome balloon had floated up to the ceiling, his signs were a little ripped, and his cousins had frightened a large number of people as they lurked around the corner to surprise him.

Here he is!

(We edged out all the other people waiting and spread ourselves out front and center, so this other poor missionary is a little confused as to where his family is. )

He seemed so much older and more mature to me.

I was talking to my cousins about whether missionaries really notice who all is there when they arrive at the airport. I knew that there were so many people to welcome Matthew that it wasn't a big deal if I didn't show up, but I wanted to go because there's something about these very real moments that are very compelling. Like saying good-bye or a baby being born or having your heart broken, the times when you know that you are alive and living life, (even if it sucks) not just sleep-walking through the daily trivialities.

Speaking of real life moments, I was disappointed that Matthew's girlfriend Kellie wasn't there. I was really looking forward to seeing Matt's reaction to seeing her, and how they would handle their private/romantic/potentially awkward moment with an audience. Put it this way: it's like watching a romantic movie--a reeeeeaaaallly loooong movie--and not getting to see the moment at the end when the hero and the heroine get together. I remember when my sister Anna came home from her mission and her boyfriend (now husband) was there waiting at the airport for her. We all got to tease him and nudge him and make snarky remarks and ask if he was nervous. The best part was when she ran into his arms to give him a hug, with Dad's plaintive voice in the background: Remember...you're still a missionary! It was great. So yeah, I was deprived. Other than that though, it was such a great feeling to see Matthew again and gain back the very tall and skinny piece of our family that had been missing.