There is something about
airports that inspire me to write. Something about the whole experience that
invigorates and enlightens me.
You come to a mall of
sorts, and catch people in unique and forward stepping time. Some are rushing.
Some are waiting. Filling their time with something. A transitory time, going
from somewhere, to somewhere different. It started with an idea, and now it is
being walked out. It’s here. Who is being left behind? Who is each about to
encounter. Whoever and whatever the case, the transition is being filled in
this interesting time and space: the airport.
Within these two
categories - the rushing and the waiting, there are also the working. The
waiting are on their phones. Lounging in bars. Reminiscing those last weeks or
the previous journey. Katy Perry comes on to console with ‘Firework’… you look
longingly at your phone at the friend who has texted you. There is a unique
attachment now to your phone, because, no one signs up to visit or spend time
with someone at the airport. Unless you are Tom Hanks, you never considered
buying real estate in B34.
It’s also great to people
watch. How many connections are made at this single point on the globe…
thousands? Hundreds of thousands? How many families are represented, people
groups, faiths, businesses… How many kinds of heartache are brought here. How
many scurrying children ready to take on the world. How many styles of shoes.
How much debt. How much teenage angst. How many coffee cups end up in those
trash cans? How much money is Starbucks making here? A lot is my guess.
I find the structure
grandiose. The large windows – this is my favorite.
Are you one of those that
waits until the last minute to get in line? I am. I like to people watch. And
avoid standing around. How about those airports with the live music. What a
great stranger place. Time to save my battery.
