So now I’ve seen the virtually finished product.

The new Weir Cook Terminal at our new Indianapolis International Airport is within hours of receiving its first passengers.

And tomorrow morning, it will be full-go for both arrivals and departures.

During ribbon-cutting ceremonies this afternoon, I had several goose-bump moments (including the one in the photo above, where I got my own snip of the ribbon).

One came as I recalled how my mother – many, many years ago – would take us children to the old Weir Cook Airport (long before it became Indianapolis International). We could go up on the roof to an observation deck and watch takeoffs and departures of DC-9s and DC-10s. It was an amazing sight.

So this afternoon, I thought of parents taking their children to our new airport, where they can gaze out the gigantic window of Civic Plaza and watch planes come and go in climate-controlled comfort.  Another amazing sight.

I also remember when TWA (Trans World Airlines for you youngsters) inaugurated the first jet service between Indianapolis and New York. We lived on the south side and it seemed that the TWA jet (I think it was a 707) would often fly above our farmhouse on its way to NYC.

Again, I would watch with awe and wonder and dream about being on that plane some day.

As a grown up, air travel became part of my almost weekly routine as I chased teams and sports events around the country and the world. A trip to the airport and air travel itself lost its awe, and became a necessity of life.

Don’t you just hate how growing up spoils you.

But this afternoon, in our magnificent new airport, I rediscovered my sense of amazement and wonderment.

In short, I felt like a little kid again.