Some observations from a reluctant traveler

[thistlebloom]

My husband and I spent the last weekend traveling 1500 miles (one way) to attend his parents 65th wedding anniversary. We flew so we could get it over with quickly (the travel time, not the celebration ). We don't like leaving home so it was like pulling teeth, but it's behind us now, and wasn't as dreadful as we had anticipated it would be with all the travel restrictions on flying.

We spent quite a bit of time in airport terminals with layovers and delayed flights, and I made a few observations.

1. There are many people who have apparently been lying on the couch watching cartoons when they get the sudden urge to fly somewhere.

2. See above only insert "changing the oil in their Buick" or "mowing the lawn".

3. Everybody in the Western U.S. owns a smart phone except me.

4. Everybody in the Western U.S. sports a tattoo, except me.
The size of the tattoo seems to be in direct proportion to the wearers youth and beauty. I saw many pretty young women with huge tattoos on major portions of their body. There are going to be a lot of sagging butterflys in the next decade or so.

5. What is it with women and shorts that expose their lower cheeks?

6. All airline employees are optimists. The explanations about a delayed flights arrival are the most creative.

7. Most people are still courteous, expressing "please" "thank you" and "pardon me" even when their flight is delayed for yet another hour.

8. Friendships can be started in a crowded noisy airplane.

9. Absence really must make the heart grow fonder. I got many hugs and sincere expressions of affection from folks who were formerly apathetically lukewarm.

10. I really do like all my in-laws.

11. There's no place like home!!

 

[journey11]

Not very often one gets that kind of spare moment to stop and people-watch. It's an enjoyable pastime, or so my Mom tells me. LOL

Glad you had a good trip!

 

[digitS']

I don't fit on airplanes. For any number of reasons, I'm incredibly uncomfortable.

Many years ago, I lived within a few hundred yards of an airport. The runways were behind the buildings from our farm house. Anyway, I was a kid in the 50's and don't remember it as being so bad. Still, it was a relief to move to another farm near a tree-lined river bank, right on the other side of a major highway.

The way passengers dressed for a flight was fun to see in those days. Of course, we never went anywhere but my brother and I would sometimes cross the road and turn up in the airport waiting room. Yes, the attire was very formal. People might have been thinking about how they wanted to be remembered as the dearly departed ...

These days, the passengers look like they are making the greatest efforts towards maximizing comfort. The airlines seem to have taken the opposite route.

Steve

 

[Nyboy]

Steve I just read about how people used to dress to fly in the 50s. Plane tickets back them where very exspenive, so people dressed up. I have to admit some early morning flights I looked like a slob. I feel the same way about tattoos, I tell friends I don't have any because I hate needles truth is I just can't bring myself to commit to something for life.

 

[so lucky]

Thistle, I'm the other person in the US who doesn't have a smartphone or tattoo. Love your observations; they are spot-on.

 

[baymule]

Haha, I enjoyed your observations! I have a smart phone, the best I can say about it is it makes me feel stupid.

I am totally with you on the tattoos and butt cheeks hanging out of shorts. It makes me want to tap on their shoulder and say, "I promise not to show you my butt and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't show me yours."

 

[ninnymary]

Well Thistle, I have to be more observant! I certainly didn't notice people who are lying on the couch watching cartoons suddenly get the urge to fly.

Mary

 

[Nyboy]

I rather see cheecks then the extra large woman in black stretchy pants. Why would you wear something that shows every lump and roll, do they come in any other color then black?

 

[ninnymary]

Nyboy, my husband hates to see hugh women showing their stomache. He thinks it's gross. Now you know why I'm so self conscience about my tummy! Ha

Mary

 

[baymule]

Or what about what I call butt-muncher shorts? These are the shorts worn by women, that with every step they make, their butt munches on their shorts, so that they wind up with a wad of fabric up their wazoo and their cheeks hanging out. Just looks darn uncomfortable to me......

Haha, next time y'all are out in public and a butt-muncher walks by, you are going to erupt in laughter.