Adam Baker: Choice Topic--Memorable Moments at the Airport

On Wednesday, November 25 and Friday, November 27, I had the opportunity to survey airline passengers at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport as part of an extensive research project I am undertaking. While distributing surveys was my primary goal, I ended up reaffirming the sacred qualities of flight. Being the Thanksgiving travel rush, it was truly a memorable experience to witness countless joyous reunions and genuine happiness among so many travelers. The idea that so many people from all over were being brought together via the skies was incredibly moving. People from all walks of life were boarding flights on both days, with the vast majority being received or accompanied by family members or friends. A few business travelers, appearing rather unphased by the necessity to conduct business on the road over a major holiday, waded through crowds of holiday travelers on the way to their next assignments. There I stood with my surveys as a cross-section of the world hustled by in a blur of diversity. Two instances remain most memorable, however. In the first, two-middle aged women escorted their elderly mother (presumably) to security, and after the departure of her flight, they commented on how wonderful it had been to finally see her again. Second, I watched as a mother and father dejectedly said goodbye to their son as he left for a late morning flight. The son turned and solemnly waved as he entered security. Based on these and countless similar instances, I began to realize that every ticket really does have a story behind it. How long had it been since the two daughters had seen their mother? Where was the son of those two parents headed? The power of flight is far more than a technological feat. Rather, it ultimately gives wings of freedom to the soul, and provides a sense of worldwide togetherness that would not otherwise be possible. It carries people from Point A to Point B, but also carries hopes, opportunities, and memories. Cruising at 35,000 feet at nearly the speed of sound is no small accomplishment, but it is the arrival at one’s destination, wherever it may be, that carries the most significance.