Güle Güle Istanbul; Hello real life

View from the Istanbul tramway

My body is back in the US. My brain is still in Istanbul. The city is lovely and I will give the low down on my trip in a separate post.
For now, I just wanted to check in and tell you a bit about my experience at the airport upon arrival at home.
I was traveling with one of my advisors. When we arrived at our home airport, she strode off the plane with purpose, not even really acknowledging me. At first, it didn't dawn on me why she was doing this, but then it became absolutely clear as she ran straight for her children's and husband's arms. I knew instinctively how that felt and I found myself hanging back to give them room and space to reunite.  It had been only a week, but that can seem forever. It certainly drove home to me how many times I had stepped off a plane at that same airport with no one to greet me.
I couldn't help but be sorrowful in that moment that my husband is nowhere near home and that the most we would be able to achieve was a skype reunion at some later moment. My eyes got misty as I thought about how much I wished I were getting off that plane and running to the arms of my family. My advisor's husband (also my advisor...I have 2) saw it before I could cover up my feelings with a big fake smile. I felt embarrassed. Luckily, he was kind enough to allow me to play it off as if he had never seen behind the mask, which in actuality neither of them ever really have.
I can't help but wonder what the day will feel like when I will come home from a conference or a business trip  to the waiting arms of my husband and children. I can't help but wonder whether it will be emotionally charged the way theirs felt or perhaps more low-key since I won't exactly be coming home from deployment.
Someday, I'll know. For now, the important thing is to put one foot in front of the other, while taking time to look up occasionally and admire the beautiful vistas that are all around me.