Little Riley knew something was different, last night. At that time, we should be going up to bed; at the very least, still reading downstairs before finally deciding it was time to call it a night. But not last night. Before eleven we were bustling about, preparing to leave the house and he was thoroughly confused; this was not the way routine marked out the end of a day.

Just before leaving an hour before arrival time we looked online to see if the plane coming in from Vancouver on a direct flight was on time, and it was; arrival would be a quarter to twelve. So, off we drove, taking the long, somewhat complicated route to the airport. Unaccustomed to driving at night, since we don't often go out that time of night, everything looked different to us. Reflecting our lifestyle, obviously.

When we finally arrived at the airport, we drove directly into the gigantic parking lot. It seems to us that each time we make that trip, at least several times a year both for arrivals and departures, one a happy event, the other not so much, things have changed. The buildings appear to have grown in length and width, and the parking area as well, assuming greater height and breadth.

Having driven into the vast vehicle-packed space, we felt turned-about, suddenly disoriented, and couldn't quite figure out which direction we were headed in. It took a few moments for re-orientation to kick in.

On our entry to the terminal and the waiting area, checking arrival times, we discovered a change; there would be a 20-minute delay, the flight had lost time, so we seated ourselves to wait, where had it not been delayed, we'd have arrived just at the right time. The interior area is vast when it's empty of people, and it was, at that point. Vast and alienating to me, I disliked being there, would have preferred being anywhere else, but for the fact that we would be welcoming a beloved son.

It's different being in a large open natural area whose surroundings tend to soothe one's senses. Not so there. But then, ten minutes went by, another five, and suddenly people began arriving, and before passengers began streaming down the escalator from the flight deck, the place was packed with men and women, young and old, and children, up late, running amok to greet one plane after another coming in from Western Canada.