Seeing Aden

As a parent, we see our children's potential long before they do. It is often a long and painful process, getting them to the point where they can even begin to realize this potential in themselves. It is all to easy for them to get caught up in the shortsightedness of their own emotions, desires, and the pursuit of instant gratification, that they cant see the bigger picture. And then they get to the point where they feel they know more than you, as their parent, and stop listening to any advice that you have to offer. Its a natural cycle for sure, but it can be so frustrating as a parent when you watch your kid learn every lesson the hard way, watch them struggle with their emotions, their demons, and finding direction in their life.

  This past week, we were able to see Aden, one of Apollo and Orion's two older brothers, begin a transformation. Aden graduated from Air Force boot camp. The Aden that left nearly 8 weeks earlier, was uncertain, probably unsure of his decision to join the air-force, and most likely frightened of what the future held for him. The Aden we saw at graduation was confident and proud but not arrogant. For his mom and I, it was great to witness him realize that he has potential, and to see him confident and excited about his future.
  Apollo and Orion, while not thrilled with the whole graduation ceremonies, they were very excited to see Aden and to also fly on a plane and stay in a hotel. The thee of us flew out of Santa Rosa while Melanie and Ian flew out of San Francisco since they planned on staying an extra day.

And thus, our journey began.

   The boys giggled with excitement as the plane accelerated down the runway, then burst into laughter as the plane lifted from the tarmac leaving their stomachs far below. The small regional jet had a lot of power and it certainly used it during take off. The boys spent the better part of the two hour flight looking out the window, laughing, talking about flying, the clouds, snow capped mountains and lakes that they could see below. Of course, as soon as the plane began its final decent into Phoenix, Orion announced that he had to pee really bad. Seriously? I just asked him if he had to go not 5 minutes earlier!. "You're going to have to wait now until we land and get off the plane!"
"I don't know if I can hold it!" he replied, squirming restlessly in his seat. I assured him that he had no choice and the next ten minutes were very stressful ones for me, as I imagined him peeing his pants on the plane.
  I need to point out here that we had 42 minutes scheduled in between flights in Phoenix, but our take off had been delayed by 45 minutes in Santa Rosa due to heavy air traffic coming into Phoenix. Our pilot made up some time in the air, but I knew our time was extremely short when we landed. We unloaded at gate B1 and our next flight was leaving out of gate B18. No problem, I thought. Fortunately, as we ran off the plane skywalk, there was a restroom directly across form the gate. As Orion is standing at one of the urinals relieving himself, I hear over the P.A. system, "Attention passengers, this is the final boarding call for flight 5944 to San Antonio. The door will be closing in 4 minutes! Please proceed to gate B18 immediately!"
Panic ensued. "Orion, hurry up! we have to go!" "I am! I'm going as fast as I can!" he replies. He finishes up, I help him wash his hands in record time and we dash out of the restrooms and run down the concourse. "Keep up boys!" We pass gates 3 and 4. Then 5 and 6. Then 7 and 8. "Hurry hurry hurry!" I encourage.
"Attention passengers; Mark Miles, Apollo Miles, Orion Miles. Please report to gate B18. This is the final call for flight 5944 to San Antonio Texas. We will be closing the door in 2 minutes!"
Gate 9 and 10. Gate 11 and 12. "What the heck!" I think to my self, when I realize that we are running out of concourse and gates and it is too short now to have a gate 18. "Shit?" I let slip from my lips. "Dada, why did you say shit!" Apollo asks followed by his brother asking the same question, both sucking air as they struggle to keep up. "Don't worry about it, just keep up!"
  I slow for a second wondering if we should turn around or go forward, then dash to the last gate, B14. "Excuse me!" I ask an agent interrupting their conversation with another customer, "Where is gate B18?"
"In the next concourse, there," he and another airline employee are pointing out the window, across the way to what I quickly estimate to be nearly 1/3 of a mile away.
"Shit!" I exclaim, "Thank you!" I turn to the boys, "Wrong way!!, Run! Run like the wind!!"
The three of us run now with everything we have, me with my slight limp, 14 weeks post Achilles surgery, and both boys with over-sized backpacks bouncing off their backs.
"Attention passenger Mark Miles. This is the final boarding call for flight 5944 to San Antonio Texas. Please report to gate B18 immediately! The door will be closing in one minute!"
People peeled out of the way in front of us, some smiling, some annoyed. Gate 8 and 7...6 and 5, Gate 2 and 1, we rounded the corner into the long passage leading to the next concourse. I was thankful to see the high-speed moving walkways spanning the length of the corridor. As we ran onto the first walk way, we hear, "Final call for passengers of flight 5944. Mark Miles, please report to gate B18 or check in with the nearest American Airline agent. We will be closing the door momentarily."
"I think we missed our plane guys!" I exclaimed urging Apollo and Orion on. We made it across the first walkway, and scrambled onto the second. We came off the second and rounded the corner to the left in a full on sprint, certain that we had missed our flight. 50 yards ahead, as people are moving out of our way, I see an American Airline employee walk out into the corridor looking our way. "Flight 5944? Mark Miles?" She called out. "Yes! That's us!" I managed to gasp.
 "Oh thank god! I was supposed to close the door two minutes ago!" said the concerned agent, waving us on. We passed through the lounge at the gate to laughter, cheering, and comments of "You barely made it!" On the plane we were greeted with the similar comments, some smiles, and a few sneers. Orion announced to everyone we passed on the way to our seats, "We barely made our flight!"

  Day 1 came way too early with a loss of 2-hours crossing time zones and then getting up at 5:45am the next morning. Apollo and Orion were good sports for the most part until we spent the first couple hours on base walking around, doing orientation, watching the Airmen's Run, in which Apollo and myself were the only ones to spot Aden, followed by more waiting around. After a while, Apollo started in with, "Let's go," and "This is boring!" Then it was time to take our places in the bleachers. Once Apollo realized that we had more waiting to do, he appallingly exclaimed, "This is soooo boring! This is way worse than school! I wish I was at school today!"

Yes, there was a lot of waiting and anticipation and from a kids perspective that was hoping a plane flight led to Disneyland style epic fun, it was boring during the in-between times. For Melanie and I, it was cool watching all the practicing and coordination that went on leading up to the presentation of the Airmen's Coin. It was the realization for me that we were watching 747 young men and women moving as one and in precise formation and timing, where only a few short weeks ago they were all kids much like Aden,; Kids that slept 10 - 12 hours a day, stayed up all night, and laid on the floor while folding laundry. What we saw was a massive group of disciplined solders (airmen) which I could not reconcile once being like Aden was when he left.
  When the ceremony ended, they allowed families to find their airmen. The Airmen had to stand in formation, at-ease, while they waited for family and friends to find them and then "tap-them-out" releasing them for the day. Apollo and Orion were excited again and were eager to hug Aden. We spent this day on base with Aden having lunch, walking around the parade grounds viewing many different Airforce planes and jets, and listening to Aden's stories about boot camp. Later that evening, we met some long lost cousins of Melanie's for dinner in San Antonio. A great day over all but by the time we returned to the hotel, we were all exhausted.

  Day 2, we made it onto base by 7:15am to find seats in the bleachers. We had to wait until 9am when the graduation ceremony started. It was hot! Even this early in the morning. Orion asked for water and we thought he was thirsty but then we had a good laugh when we watched him pour caps full of water onto his arms in an attempt to cool off. The high was 92 degrees that day. Our highs at home have been in the 50's. It definitely felt a bit warm in the sun.
  This day, the airmen were dressed in their dress uniforms. at the conclusion of the ceremony, we "tapped-out" Aden again. We walked back to his dorm for an open house and were able to see how neat his bed was made and how neat and clean his locker was kept. Apollo and Orion used the beds as a play-place for their transformer toys, which stressed out Aden and the other Airmen. They had to go behind the boys and straighten their beds and align their boots and shoes that the boys kicked around under the beds. Needless to say, I was as happy to get the boys out of there as the airmen were to have them leave. This day, Aden had an off base pass and we were able to visit the Alamo and a portion of the Riverwalk.

  As far as Apollo and Orion were concerned, the day was lack-luster and I had to remind them constantly that this trip was about Aden and not them, Still, Apollo was really impressed with the Mexican Grackle birds that we found everywhere we looked and took to mimicking them. He also liked the waterfalls that passed from the outside of the Hyatt hotel, through the lobby, then out into the Riverwalk. Orion liked the giant koi fish at the Alamo, and a giant transformer inside of the Ripley's Believe-it-or-not, lobby. After spending the entire day with Aden, we made it back to the base 15 minutes early, only to find the first three gates were locked. We finally found an open get and once we made it through, we hurried to the dorms to drop off Aden. He arrived right on time but only after several stressful minutes.

  For myself, Apollo, and Orion, our visit came to an end. We were on the plane by 6:15am the next morning. Our flights were less eventful on the way home as we were all tired and ready to be back at our house. Melanie and Ian were able to spend the next two days with Aden while the little boys and I caught up on sleep, homework, and laundry.

One thing that I always do with the boys after a trip, is ask them about it. I ask what they liked, what they didn't like, remind them of things we did and we talk about the our experiences. the last thing I ask the boys is, what was their favorite thing from the trip.
Apollo answered; "I liked the birds, and I liked the Riverwalk the best. Oh, and I liked the plane ride.
"Orion, what was your favorite thing?" I asked after Apollo finished.
He answered simply, "Seeing Aden."