Airports

I have always had a deep love for airports. In fact, I remember the first time I ever flew: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to somewhere in Maryland (I do not think it was Baltimore, but who knows). Exciting, right?

My deep love for airports has more to do with the ambiance and the amount of souls that are bustling about their days. There are the first time fliers who are holding up the ticket counter line, the kiosks, and being yelled at by security for the number of directions they did not follow. Probably too traumatized to ever fly again.

There are the frequent fliers, air pods in ears, sunglasses on and looking straight ahead. Do NOT converse with these people; they mean serious business and you are definitely inconveniencing them. Get to the airplane as soon as boarding begins. The least amount of time spent at the airport, the better.

Then of course you have the bachelorette party heading to Vegas or Nashville; bride and bridesmaids sash in place, matching Lululemon joggers with the shirts that say “Venmo @onedickforlife and buy her a drink! She’s getting MARRIED!” Meanwhile the ENTIRE rest of the airport is just praying to the airport GODS that they are on a different flight or that they all take an extra Xanax prior to boarding.

We can’t forget the airport SUPER MOM who has all 7 of her children in single file line, hands behind their back, smiling and waiting for instruction from the airport personnel, not crying, not fighting, not hungry, not thirsty, not peeing, not pooping, not asking for the tablet…. you have never witnessed this? ME NEITHER. Seriously, BLESS ALL PARENTS. Bringing offsprings to the airport sounds like the ultimate nightmare, and you all deserve a round of applause for braving the wilderness. We salute you and we see you. Keep goin mama ❤

Lastly, how about the lovely soul who is RUNNING to their gate, only to arrive and see the plane rolling down the runway. And, like clockwork, mostly in shock I am assuming, they ask “IS THERE STILL TIME?” At which point the polite gate agent will say “Of course, sir, let me just call the pilot and see if he can swing back by to pick you up!” I never understood these people. Don’t be this guy, please, just don’t.

Anyway, I could continue on forever about the different walks of life that are meandering around the airport. Which ties into why I absolutely love airports. I have become somewhat of a frequent flier in my adult years, and I still get that warm fuzzy feeling when I arrive.

People are shedding tears as they wish their loved ones safe travels. There are joyous reunions of years passed, finally to be reunited in each other’s arms. You have the solo traveler, about to embark on a journey of a lifetime (probably 5 vodka sodas deep prior to boarding). The grandson boarding a last minute flight home for his grandma’s funeral. There are international travelers, coming and going from the other side of the world. Moms and Dads sending their first born off to college from the east to west coast. Military personnel excitedly boarding that last leg of their flight to finally get home to their loved ones. The TRAVEL NURSE, just getting off night shift to fly home and spend the week with their babies. The friends heading off to Miami for a weekend of fun in the sun, their energy radiating through the crowd.

It is truly one of the only places that comes to mind, where every single walk of life will be gathered in one place. And although this is not always the most positive and uplifting environment, and people are angry and grumpy and having a terrible day, there is still something so beautiful and pure about the way we as humans interact to create a functioning society, even in such chaos.

Beauty is everywhere. Miracles happen every day (you are literally about to board a large metal tube and be hurled through the air at 500+ MPH, if you can’t see the miracle there then I don’t know what else will convince you). All we have to do is look around us and choose to see what is right in front of us. Next time you get to the airport, just take the deepest breath you can, and just try to see the beauty that exists in diversity. Everyone has a story. We all have a journey to embark upon. As Ellen would say, be kind to one another.

Colton Lord, EntrepRNooer