Looking Back….Landing in Abu Dhabi … 5July13

I touched-down in Abu Dhabi on July 5^th, it was a Friday night and it was late by the time I finally cleared through the very friendly..?.. (mmm…not so much) immigration entry and customs queues, aka: “misc. other countries” – where my passport was professionally and intensely inspected. I recall that at the passport check-desk, the white dishdash gowned Emirate clerk was a somber faced, low talker. The immigration area, now filled with tired tourists, expats and citizens just arriving from long journeys, was tremendously noisy. I instinctively leaned-in and over the counter, cautious not to annoy or offend, (internally recalling a Seinfeld Show “low-talker” episode for lightness) – patiently demonstrating effort to hear. I found myself repeatedly asking the clerk to please repeat what he was saying because I just couldn’t hear him. It occurred to me that one interpretation for this behavior might be power posturing. I would have to struggle to hear the questions requiring an answer, to gain entry into his country; and that gave him the upper hand – the power. Another interpretation, I reminded myself, could be he was just having a bad day. Regardless, all I wanted was to be acceptable to his country, pick-up my luggage and to finally reunite with S. Questions finally heard and kindly answered, my picture taken, I was finally approved entry. I needed to find a ladies room. Not an easy task. The Abu Dhabi Int’l lobby more closely resembles a circular shopping mall than an airport-terminal lobby. Once in the difficult-to-find Ladies Restroom, across from the Ladies Pray Room, I remembered it was good I had tissue in my purse because their toilet accessories are more commonly a little hose and nozzle to shower your behind with rather than the standard practice we are accustomed to in the U.S.… and oh, yes did I mention the toilet bowl water is warm/hot… I know this because one can feel the steam coming up. I quickly refreshed myself impatient to see and touch my darling S. I enthusiastically collected my luggage from the mounts of bags at the carousel, loaded them onto a free luggage cart, pushed through a long narrow hallway lined with a decadently wide variety of high-end designer stores. After a few minutes I realized I was going into the airport – instead of out. So I asked for directions out, and finally reached the double glass exit doors that opened into a reception lobby packed with camera flashing nationals – Emirates, a variety of ex-patriots and hopefully, my guy, S. The greeters, all waiting for their arriving visitors stood cramped-up against a half-wall divider that secured them back and allowed the visitors to immerge. I hate walking out to a mass of people and having to look at each one of them to find S. So I quickly glanced and not seeing him I simply pushed on through the walkway and out into the group. I parked to the side to look deeper in the crowd from that side and behind….and there he was – still intently looking for me in the door through which I had just emerged. It had been a long trip. 22 hours travel time to be exact… but when I saw him, looking for me, waiting patiently…so handsome, it was all worth it and in perfect timing.

With Gratitude,

c.e.leon