Airport musings

Since childhood airports have been a special place for me. Way before I ever got on a plane. First were the airport dropoffs and pickups that for some reason were the highlight of any holiday season. The airport mood was always a thrill. Right from the time we left the house to the time the plane flew off the runway. Also, I have always had a traveler's heart so I knew airports would someday be my favorite 'hangout'.

The hubby and I were in a long distance relationship for a while in our dating days. In this period, airports grew on me even more. It was the place we first saw each other after many weeks of being apart. The warmth of those hugs and kisses was breathtaking, literally. It is where our vacations would commence. We would meet halfway at some airport and take it from there. Exciting times! Unfortunately it was also the place for goodbyes.

There's an indescribable mystery that surrounds airports. You can be anyone, going anywhere. I love to sit and watch people then create them a life story and destination. I have quite a few good friendships that started at an airport. It's a famous birthplace of modern romance, and who doesn't enjoy a good love story. I know I do.

A few years ago I was on one of my travels, dressed in a cute, white, floral dress, chic purse in my hands, wearing deep red lipstick with my big sunglasses on. I sat in one of the bars at the airport sipping a mojito as I waited for my connecting flight. You could smell the glitz that surrounded me from miles away. That's the only way I knew how to appear for my airport dates, in style.

Few sips into my drink and I'm woken out of my daydream by a mother dragging her toddler off the floor. He rolled and tossed down there like he had ants marching all over his body. The desperate mother begged, shouted, bribed and pulled all those other tricks you mothers already know to try and get him to move before they missed their flight but all was in vain. I silently gave her the side eye thinking 'tame your child woman'. She on the other hand looked at me with eyes that seemed to say 'I envy you right now but don't you dare judge me'. The battle between mother and what seemed like a 2 year old son went on for a while until she managed to lift him off the floor and hold him tightly to her body along with the hand luggage she was already carrying.

First forward to not so long ago, I was that woman. Airports currently give me shivers. The like you get when you're waiting for that line(s) to show on a pregnancy test for a pregnancy you're not ready for. They make me nervous, anxious, angry, sweaty, thanks to my younglings. Traveling with my little kids has had me throw out all that glamour I mentioned earlier. If I could go back and apologise to that woman for giving her the 'what kind of mother can't keep her kid in check' look, I would. I now know exactly what emotions she was going through at that point. She probably hated me the same way I hated the lady that swayed past me carrying (only) a gucci clutch the size of my wallet, browsing through the magazines in the duty free shops with a relaxed air on her face that I would trade my kids for at that point in time.

Setting off with my younglings

I was dressed like I was ready to hit a marathon. Black leggings to cover the inevitable spills of food and milk. Sneakers to easily run after my little monster.  Loose, dark coloured top because I am guaranteed a lot of sweating. Don't ask me what is in that bag I am carrying. Just picture what you would pack for two small kids if you had just 5 mins to exit your house. Everything. Oh and make sure you don't forget that favorite toy or you're in for a massive tantrum. I will not go into the numerous luggage checks where I had to load and offload everything I had on me including the baby. That's a story for another day.

My son cooling off on the airport floors

That was the experience from my most recent travel with a 7 months old baby and vibrant 2.5 years old toddler from Europe to Africa and back. I promised myself not to do it again without extra hands until they are a little older. So I'm hoping to pull off at least half of my old sophisticated airport look on the next travel.

I feel like I had a breakup with a long time lover (read airport) and I want them back. I need to rekindle those pleasant tingles I got when I stepped into the airport lobby. That calls for a vacay (without the kids), right?

LT