Friendship and Airport: A Tribute to Long-Distance Friends

There's a beauty in being asked by a friend to pick them up at the airport. That's because it's not just about the logistics of arrival (well, it might be for them, but I'm a romantic who will romanticise the hell out of it); yes, please let me have the front row ticket to see the facade you put up for the rest of the world, drop at the sight of a familiar face; yes, let me be the first person to see your transition from somebody who fiercely guards their armrest to the somebody that's running towards me with arms wide open!

It is like a backstage pass to somebody's life. That is where you see the person for who they really are and not the performer that the rest of the world sees. At that moment, the pickup is no more just a chore, it is a chance to see somebody return to their raw, unscripted self.

Seriously, you have picked me as the first familiar face you'd see on arrival?

What a tribute to our friendship! What a fucking honour!

I might be hungry, I might be tired, I might be cranky, I might be sleepy, and you know that I'd still show up.

Maybe you're having a bad day, are hungry, angry or icky, you know I won't be affected by the shortness, for our friendship is much more than that.

On the other hand, I pick you up because I know our friendship can handle whatever gets thrown at it, and maybe strengthen it even more.

When it's in a land foreign to you, you trust me as somebody with who you are comfortable with. It's like, "Hey, I can let my guard down because we have each others' back!"

Or maybe it's a place which you call your home, and you choose to see me before anyone or anything else (?!?!?!), that's a serious honour! Like, forget the familiar faces and places; you want to catch up with me first? Now, that's something special.

Maybe, my texts might just say, "Yes, sure,"; but what I'm really shouting from the rooftops is that battling through bad traffic, dealing with unruly and overly-ruly people, and waiting at the airport—all of it—is absolutely worth it for you! What I'm trying to say is that you're the kind of person who's worth every second of my time, even when I'm at my absolute worst. That's a place where I don't allow many people.

So even before you asked and before you even told me the time of your arrival, I beat you to the punch and said, "I'll be there." Because, my friend, you're worthy of being loved, and I'm all in. I'll be there, at the airport, waiting every chance I get to pick you up because, without a doubt, you're worth every bit of trouble and more.

If I am sending this to you personally, know for sure that I'll always be ready to see you at the airport, no matter what [note how I didn't write "pick you up" because I don't know how to drive a car and if you have luggage with you, I can't really give you a ride.. but hey, I can always book a cab!]