Joy Of Traveling
After all the early check-ins, processing and security checks, I found myself a strategic position with which to sit and pass the time with a particular diversion..."people watching". It's quite interesting what you are able to observe by merely sitting quietly and discretely. The staunch businessman, young corporate wannabes, older vacationers, couples perhaps on honeymoon and even frazzled parents. But if you look closer, you can learn much more about these travelers. Most do not seem to want for conversation. Instead, they bury themselves in their newspapers, ever running laptops, the latest softbacked romance novel or simply conversing with someone else on their cellphones. Eyes often divert to other interests and when other travelers arrive in the seating area, there is a sort of unspoken "rule" that they leave at least one unoccupied seat between themselves. Obviously, in today's world of chaos and uncertainty, to be somewhat standoffish probably offers some sense of safety although most likely unneeded. But then there are the children. And I find them to be so unlike the adults and even more fascinating. Perhaps being less worldly, and yes, a bit naive...they seem to have little problem finding much more interesting activities. Smoothly polished floors make for a wonderful slide, moving walkways are ever so much fun if you walk backwards and luggage with wheels give great rides to stuffed animals. Even on the airplane, while others sprinted to their seats and laid claim to overhead storage bins, children were locating the "old fashioned seatbelts" (you know, ones without buttons), colorful magazines in their own seat pockets and those unusual "portholes" with sliding sheet blinds that close them off from the outside. One little girl sitting across the aisle from me would continually seek out my attention and then play a modified game of "hide and seek". And as we exited upon arrival, the mad dash of the adults to be the "first one" up and out...pushing and shoving was all but forgotten as I sat there quietly in my seat, watching the little girl turn and send me a farewell wave.
Today's Quote:
To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.-Robert Louis Stevenson
7:22:43 PM 
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