Airports offer the best, the worst

My wife, Pam, is from Oregon and I've spent a lot of time in airports the past eight years watching her come and go. She tries to get out there every three months or so, and her daughter, son and/or grandkids come see us occasionally. That was the case yesterday when Pam's daughter, Kayce, granddaughter three-year-old Madison and Kayce's boyfriend, Brandon, flew from Portland to the Nashville airport.

It was an emotional high when the kids rounded the corner coming up the A hallway and quickly approached us. The hugs flew from everyone and I thought of this as being one of those "best" moments that airports offer.

We'll make the most of it while they're here this week. Pam and I plan to take Madison to the zoo on Tuesday while Kayce and Brandon take a quick trip to Chicago to see friends. We'll take in the last Friday After Five of the season next Friday; on Saturday, we hope to take part in the march to the home of the family that will receive the new home courtesy of the Extreme Makeover, Home Edition show taping here in Owensboro.

Later next Saturday, they'll leave again out of the Nashville airport. That same place that was welcoming and full of anticipation yesterday will instead feel suddenly empty and lonely.