Airports
“Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother-in-law to the airport.” –Henny Youngman
I love to fly, to look out at the blue that goes on forever. It’s as if I can reach out and touch the hand of God.
I imagine faces in the clouds or forests of white trees and enjoy the green of the Earth. At night, I look out the window at the jewels of light known as cities, or appreciate the moon reflecting her light onto a sea of clouds.
Turbulence? No problem. I enjoy the roller coaster ride.
Storm in the distance? I love the contrast of dark within light.
What is my favorite moment of air travel? When the wheels lift off the runway and we’re freed from the ground.
What about airports?
uh….airports…
What is it about airports?
Walking through an airport is like looking through a latticework at water colors flowing past containing arms, legs, luggage and other weapons of mass disruption. If people drove like they walk through airports, cars would’ve been banned years ago.
Most people are terrified OF the plane ride, not the journey TO the plane ride.
In fact, most people think of this the moment they step onto the plane:
Or this:
“You want to know what its like to be on a plane for 22 hours? Sit in a chair, squeeze your head as hard as you can, don’t stop, then take a paper bag and put it over your mouth and nose and breath your own air over and over and over.” — Lewis Black .
Chaotic, confusing…airports are a rats maze.
But Flying?
Can you tell me of 1 person in the mid 1800’s who would believe that a mass of metal, plastic and passengers–over 100,000 pounds–could lift off the ground in Jacksonville, Florida and arrive in San Francisco in under 6 hours? My great grandfather would’ve felt lucky to get there in 3 months.
Flying reminds me that miracles happen.
You combine truth with humor very well!
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It comes from the heart. 🙂
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The only time I fly is when I’m on vacation, so the most exciting part of flying for me is the excitement of going somewhere I have never been before. I don’t mind airports so much. LOTS of great opportunities for people watching 🙂
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I used to think of airports as just another building, until they tried to eat me. 🙂
Or…I should say…until the day the holes in my visual field made it so that I had to take time to see the whole picture–and then when I was unable to track the trajectory of 100 people coming toward me without seeing a mass of color.
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You have written exactly how I feel about the whole experience. Brilliantly illuminated!
I love aircraft, any size, any model, but boarding one becomes the purest form of a burden that I can think of, and all because the beauty within the airport has been ripped from our souls.
Skycaps and agents seem burdened by the plague of the multitudes that enter and depart the premises. No longer do we see the anticipation of boarding an aircraft, but the dread of the ‘cattle herding’ and the stress of deadlines.
Once upon a time we dressed for the occasion and eagerly awaited not only our flight, but the airport arrival. We were giddy with excitement, full of wonder and amazed at all the splendor. But now it appears that this is all behind us.
The aircraft will never lose it’s bewitching beauty for this passenger. Like you, I will continue to be beguiled by it’s awesomeness.
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Thanks for such a great reply. 🙂
I used to be able to walk to the gate with my family, instead of having to get an ‘escort’ pass. We’d sit and talk until it was time to say good bye. So many freedoms lost because of our fears.
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Reblogged this on Two on a Rant and commented:
I wrote this in 2014 and it’s still true today.
I swore that I was NEVER going to go through another airport again. Why?
I have the worst airport anxiety you can imagine. But…
I’ll get into the answer as to “Why the hell are you subjecting yourself to this torture?” later.
Much, much later.
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