Airports

I think you could pretty much sum up humanity based on what you see while people watching in an airport. Surprisingly, for someone who often meets people, I rarely meet people traveling. There's something about airports, planes, and being forced to sit next to an unknown person for hours that puts us in our own cocoons.

While they are lonely, airports are also a display of all the connections that remind us what life is about. Everyone here has either just seen something, or is going to see something. They're either sad to be departing people or, like that couple just over there, they greet their life partners with a hug and a long awaited kiss. Walking off the plane, it's all about making the phone call to your awaiting ride. Or if you're stuck waiting like me, you can catch up on video calls over the internet like the man sitting next to me right now.

And always, if you think you have a horror story there's someone who's worse off. A man across from me had to leave security to pick up a package for his company (which is why they diverted him from LA to Seattle before heading back across the Pacific) and the line for security was so long he missed his flight. Right now he's stuck. There is no other flight til 2pm tomorrow and is just waiting, trying to figure out his options. I don't know why that other man had to be In Boise in the morning but shouting at the top of your lungs at the desk agent won't change the dangerous foggy conditions two states away. I'm sorry the airlines' priorities seem to get you there alive over risking getting you there on time. Airports do bring out the worst in people.

And they reveal our capacity to fall into line. Without going into the dangers and fear that haunts today's air travel, I just know if I want to get somewhere I am going to have to take of my shoes. So they have it all: love, sadness, anger, anticipation, satisfaction, and hold all this life temporarily in a holding pattern.

Right now, I have a gigantic bike box, a clue to my adventure on the other end. I am waiting for someone to ask me about it. So far, only a 4 year old has spoken up. However, he didn't accept my answer and proceeded to grill me with questions about why I would want a bike in a box, how did the bike fit in the big box, and why would I ever want to ride my bike in California and take it there in a box no less!

But I digress. Airports are life hit with the pause button. Life happens outside of them and in between the flights we take, and yet the emotional range of life itself is seen on on the rainbow of faces that walk between it's gates. It's cool to see.

Awww... there goes a puppy!