In Transit

It was dead of winter and less than a week after the holiday season. There was a thin layer of snow on the ground and the temperature outside was way below freezing. I was in an airport in Denver Colorado for a layover and I got almost two hours to kill before my next flight.

There were many people seated in the terminal gates and other waiting areas, and most of them have their faces glued to their phones. Perhaps many were doomscrolling to past the time. But not me.

Instead of endlessly watching YouTube on my phone, I watch people around me. People watching is one of my favorite past time. In my mind I try to weave stories while we were all in transit and temporarily sharing this particular time and space.

Some of the people around me were snoozing. Perhaps they were trying to catch up on precious sleep coming from their holiday revelries. Maybe they partied too hard. Or maybe they were just worn out travelers.

There were also people eating. From donuts, to burgers, to tacos, to pizzas, and everything else you can get in an airport. There was one man who was eating a McDonald’s hamburger and also had a box of pizza from Pizza Hut. He must be really hungry. Maybe his New Year’s resolution was never to be hungry again.

Then there was this one lady who was not very far from me and she was cutting her fingernail. Yes, in an airport! At least it was her fingernails and not her toenails. I tried to look away as I was afraid what she would do next.

I shifted my attention to the throng of people passing by. What interesting stories do they have?

Some people were walking leisurely as if they’re strolling under the moonlight. They must have time to kill like me. Or maybe they were just slow walkers. Or maybe they have so much in their mind that they were not paying attention of the time.

There were many who were rushing and there were few who were even running. Perhaps they overslept or their alarm clock did not sound off. Or maybe their initial flight was delayed and they were crunch for time to catch their next flight. I hope they make it to their gate in time. It would be a big hassle if they miss their connecting flight. I know, it happened to me before.

There were some people being pushed on a wheelchair. Perhaps they were too old or too frail to walk. Perhaps their health was failing and were not in a good condition to travel anymore. That must be hard for them. But perhaps they were going to meet with their family that they have not seen for a long time, or maybe even seeing a grand child who was just born. That would make this difficult journey all worthwhile.

I saw some families traveling with their small children. The kids looked like they were dragged straight out from bed, still clutching on their blankie. Poor kids. But wait, maybe they were going to a nice vacation place. Maybe they were on their way to Disney Land! Then this would be a once-in-a-lifetime memorable trip for them. Fortunate kids.

I also saw people who were wearing t-shirts and shorts. Who would wear such an outfit in the middle of winter? Perhaps they were heading to somewhere warm. A tropical destination perhaps, like Hawaii. In their mind, and in their attire, they were already there.

Then there were few people who were dressed literally in their PJs. Were they going to a sleepover? Or is the airport an extension of their bedroom? I don’t even know when did pajamas became appropriate for airline travel? Or maybe they were just sleep walking!

On the other hand, there were some men and women who were dressed in their business suits. I wonder what business transactions they were heading to? Were they on their way on such a major negotiation, like maybe buying another company? I don’t envy people who do a lot of travel in their line of work, unless all business deals are made in a beach somewhere in the Bahamas.

There was also a group of tall boys in their athletic jacket uniform that I saw. Most likely they were a high school basketball team. Where would they be competing? Were they a good team? If not, at least they had the opportunity to travel.

During my time of people watching, I saw several soldiers dressed in their uniforms with their service-issued backpacks. Perhaps some of them were going home. That must be a joyful homecoming. But perhaps some of them were being deployed somewhere, maybe even in battle zones. That must be tough, not only for them but for the family that they left behind. I wish them all well.

As for me, where was I heading, you might ask? Somewhere fun? Or somewhere warm? Not exactly.

I’m going for some kind of treatment (maybe I’ll blog more about this some other time). And I’m hoping for healing, not only for my body, but for my mind, and also for my soul.

I am praying that this will be some kind of a “new start” for me, not just for the new year, but for the rest of my life’s journey.

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Post Note: We were already boarded on our connecting flight when we were asked to deplane as there was a water leak on the plane. Needless to say our flight got delayed; so I had more time for people watching.