Sunday, December 2, 2007

Airports

It has been a long time since I have posted something. In fact, I am no longer in Jackson, WY if you didn't already know that. I had a wonderful time during my two months but felt it was time to head home. I am now living in Seattle with a new job that is very exciting. Lately, I have really been enjoying the promotional marketing required for my job. I do not believe that I could have been blessed with a better first job. It requires the ability to wear several different hats and will become more difficult as time goes on, however it provides me with some valuable experiences that I am enjoying. I even have the opportunity to travel occasionally which is nice to see other parts of the country, however is probably the least favorite aspect of my job as I visit several different airport. Even now I am sitting in the Denver International Airport. When all is said and done, I will have sat in DIA for nearly four hours! Lucky me. Given the time I have spent in airports, today in particular, I have had some "quality" time to think about them.
I dislike airports. Here is my first point of dislike for airports. If you have ever seen the movie The Terminal with Tom Hanks, you may remember that airports exist on international property (I believe). This means that although I am in the DIA, I'm not actually in Denver. Does this mean that I am in International Denver, CO? Where am I? It's confusing to say the least.
My second point: airports are just a temporary waiting point. Nobody actually wants to be in an airport for an extended period of time. They are simply a means to an end. A holding cell if you will. Everyone within an airport is waiting to be somewhere else.
Thirdly, airports are lonely places. Most people that are traveling on airplanes are en route to be with friends or family. If you have to be here for extended periods of time you are delayed from being with the people you want to be with.
Airports offer an inaccurate depiction of America. If you think about which class of Americans are able to fly on plans you will realize that the answer is middle and upper class. If you take an even broader perspective, you will see that airports could be viewed as a club for the worlds wealthiest. Although it may not always seem this way when you look around you at everyone else flying, much of the world makes less then a dollar a day. How much did your last plane ticket cost? Interesting to think about.
Although I dislike airports for those reasons, I do enjoy having the opportunity to travel with this job. I get to see different parts of the country. Coincidentally enough, I'm always ready to head right home to the most beautiful part of the country (in my opinion)- Seattle, WA.
My plane is about to board which means that I get to leave this confusing, temporary, lonely, and crazy place.

1 comment:

ryan said...

hmmm...seeing the depth in a seemingly shallow subject. Well done, good sir. I thoroughly enjoyed your thoughts!

God is good, all the time, God is good.