I haven’t flown since 9-11, and I know everything has changed. I’ve heard all the horror stories. And I know we can no longer take certain things in certain sizes. Really? The size of my shampoo bottle matters? Well, of course, I don’t want to take a litter bottle of shampoo because it weights too much. I’m only going to Texas. If I run out, I’ll buy some.
Then certain things must go into a quart-sized zip locked bag. HUH? I can only take one zip bag? But I have… Do I take… I want certain things in my carry-on bag. Does the purse count as a carry-on? Darn. I’m going to be studying that TSA list . https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips/travel-checklist
I have layovers, and I want my computer with me. I want my phone and my Kindle. Am I going to survive this? Yes. I’ve traveled extensively. I’ve just never traveled post 9-11. I have to take my shoes off? Gross. I don’t want my feet on a dirty floor. I’m whining. I’m nervous. Flying I really don’t mind – it’s getting to that point.
Why do they call it a layover? Wouldn’t it be a lyover or lieover? If you lie, you are resting, if you lay, you are placing. Okay, they are placing me in the airport for a certain length of time.
I’ll be in Atlanta for a few hours. I’ve heard that place is huge. I’ve never been to Atlanta’s airport but I’ve heard it’s one of the biggest airports in the USA. That’s daunting. I remember a few times as a teen racing to get to a different area in the airport to catch the next flight. The panic of not knowing where I had to be and a few times not speaking the language. I doubt I’ll have a problem this time, but I want to make certain I’ve covered all my bases. With luck, Delta will be all in the same place.
When I used to travel as a child and teen, I always kept an undersized deck of cards and a small magnetic chess set in my purse. There were no electronics back then. But if I got caught someplace, I’d pull out my chess set, put it in front of me, and wait. It usually only took a few minutes and someone would look at the set and me. I’d smile, and a few hand signs later, I was playing chess with a complete stranger. That’s probably the most internationally known game. I’d be playing with an eighty-year-old or a teen. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t a great player, but I could play. I’d play in an airport, a train station, or in a little cafe. It was fun and often would draw a crowd. What I discovered about my little chess set was that no matter where I was the game was known and broke language barriers, age barriers, and created friends. All people love a chance to have a few minutes of fun no matter if they lived in New Delhi, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, or some unheard of little town.
Smiles are also understood all over the world.
A Nomad's Journey 