Wednesday, December 19, 2007

airports, sappiness

Maybe I'm just in a sappy mood, but I found this story incredibly poignant.


Anyway, I finished my "Okaeri" sign, and on the Saturday she was due to arrive in Japan, I headed for the airport. She'd bought her tickets a few months ago, and then a schedule change allowed her to come back 3 days earlier than the original ticketing. At first, we planned to keep the schedule change a secret - she'd come and spend the time with me, and then go back to her family. However, her parents ended up finding out about the schedule change and, none too happy, demanded she come straight home after her flight arrived. She told me that, in light of this, I didn't have to meet her at the airport.

And perhaps it would have been wise to stay at home. From where I lived, a round-trip to Kansai International Airport costs 4000 yen. I had about 4500 yen to my name. I could stretch 4500 yen into basic meals for 2, maybe 3 weeks. But, I wanted to meet her at the airport. I knew all too well the sadness of arriving at an airport and having no one be there to greet you. I wanted to at least ride the train back with her to Kyoto. I'd worry about eating some other time.

... [snip] ...

suddenly I gained an almost Jedi-like sense of clarity here. Literally, it was like someone turned on a switch in my head, and suddenly I knew. I really should have known before, but now everything was crystal clear.

"There's someone else, isn't there?" I ask her.

Her head drops. "Yes." She says softly.


It reminds me of an article I read once about Brad Pitt. When he was in his early 20s, he was dating an actress who has since faded into obscurity. He only had $900 to his name, but he spent $700 of it to fly to Europe, where she was filming.

When he got there, he discovered that she was already dating her new co-star.

I bet she regrets it now! She gave up Brad Pitt, yo!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Brad Pitt - I don't know about that. Supposedly Brad and Jennifer Aniston were having problems with their relationship prior to Brad & Angelina Jolie filming Mr & Mrs Smith, but I bet he was cheating on Jennifer during the filming of the movie! Brad is just as guilty as that obscure actress. But what a woman to have an affair with! :-) The relationship seems to be going on strong! (and to think Angelina was once married to Billy Bob Thorton!)

Yes, airports can be extremely happy and sad places...

Anonymous said...

My girlfriend at the time lived in Germany, about 7 hours driving time away. She went off to a language course for a month. I decided to surprise her and pick her up at the airport (without telling her). I drove 7 hours to the airport where she was to be arriving, I waited half a day for her flight to arrive (I didn't know which flight she was going to be taking). I bought roses. And then I stood there like an idiot as she came back with someone else.

It was a long drive back home.

Anonymous said...

More WM ass kissing from Niniane.

Anonymous said...

More niniane ass-kissing from John K. Lin. The latter is more pathetic, IMO.

Anonymous said...

Nope, Niniane is more pathetic.

Anonymous said...

All this just demonstrates that the "romantic" antics that Niniane so desires from her men are just a waste of time because in the end they break your heart and you've wasted your time/effort.

They goal is to be loved *despite* being unromantic...that way if she dumps you, you haven't wasted your time and effort on stupid welcome signs and if she doesn't dump you then she's a keeper!

ArC said...

Who spilled all the haterade?

Anonymous said...

Airports...

If your love is not local...

The heart will stray.

If you cannot be with the one you love... Love the one you are with.

Happened to many of my friends...

And even me to some extent...

Will people ever realize this?

Even if warned?