I never understood the hate that airports get. They’re like a social black hole. All known laws of civility break down once you enter one. Personally, I think they should inspire the same awe in us as the cosmos do to astronomers. And if you don’t feel that way, you’re probably a sociopath, unlike me. I always shows up at least six hours before takeoff to cast judgement upon complete strangers.
But there must be something about air travel that makes people insane. It makes sense. Airplanes go against the laws of god. Yet sometimes i wonder if people are conscious of their actions. Take TSA for example. No one likes to go through it. But you’ll have a much better chance of making your flight if you simply comply. What won’t work is getting pulled aside, which isn’t uncommon, and rock back and forth like a drug fiend and forcefully argue your case. But that’s just my two cents.
Now, personal space. Being an early bird, I like to show up early, find a nice little eatery at my gate and sit in a quiet corner before my day invariably goes off the rails. But what I REALLY love is when a group of loud, hungover women sit next to me in an empty restaurant and bitch about their hotel room and then resume their night’s revelries over dozens of Bloody Mary’s at 4:30 in the morning. That’s some pro level shit. I can’t even be annoyed at that.
Sometimes I try to catch a nap before I board. “Why not sleep on the plane?” you might ask. Cuz fuck you. That’s why. But it’s hard to sleep when you’re sitting next to some Charles Napier-lookin jackass who reads his texts out loud. You see, ever since hearing that story about that dude who got decapitated on Greyhound, I’ve had a fairly rational fear of sleeping next to strangers.
So for the life of me, I can’t understand why people loathe air travel. It’s always been a rewarding and insightful experience into the human condition. Don’t piss and moan. Throw on your best Werner Herzog internal monologue and have fun.
Anywho, I’ll be in Phoenix soon. I’ll be waiting in the Derby Dames bout parking lot. 4:30. Don’t wuss out.


