Gotcha Day

Six years ago we put Madison and Kai in the van and picked up my mom and dad.  Michael was afraid we would hit bad traffic or there would be an accident and we’d be late so we left several hours early even though the airport is less than an hour away.

We arrived at the airport and got situated by the United Airlines exit.  After a while the plane from San Francisco (the connecting flight from Korea) landed.  We held up the signs we'd made so the woman from Holt would be able to identify us.  We waited and waited but little Chase never came through the gate.

After what seemed like hours my mom suggested we go to the United desk and see if they had any idea what we should do.  Michael and I were afraid that the second we took our eyes off the gate Chase's escort would finally come through and we would miss him.  So my dad went.

The United desk told him that a Korean escort with a baby had been on the plane but they didn’t know where she had gone after she got off.  My dad decided to walk around and try to find her.  He took his cell phone and left.  He walked from one side of the airport to the other and upon entering the Delta terminal he saw a young Asian woman talking to a Delta worker.  She was carrying a small baby and large bag.  My dad approached them and in Korean said, “Are you from Holt?”  “Yes! Yes!” she said as she started to cry. She didn’t speak any English and didn’t know where to go when she got off the plane.  She got lost and came out in a deserted Delta terminal and didn’t understand where everyone was.  Finally Delta found a representative who spoke a little Korean but he didn’t really understand what she was saying about Holt and the baby. 

My dad called us and we came running.  Through my dad the escort told us that Chase was the most loved baby at the Holt Reception Center.  She said that he was so handsome and sweet that everyone fought over who got to hold and care for him.  She said that he was her favorite so even though she’d never been an escort before, when she found out that Chase was traveling she asked to be assigned to him.  

So at the baggage claim in an empty Delta terminal I was handed a  baby boy with big chubby cheeks, dark eyes, thick black hair and a big beautiful smile.

Happy "gotcha day" Mr. Chase.  We're so lucky to have you in our little family.