Five Hours and Counting [Podcast]
Why did everyone stand up so quickly after landing?
Everyone’s in such a rush to get off the plane. They can’t wait to wait in the crowded aisle as people reach over their heads to get at bags stuffed in the overhead containers.
I guess when you have a short layover there’s reason enough to be stressed and if you’re at your destination the excitement can get the best of you.
But I have a layover.
A long layover.
A layover longer than the longest flight on my cheap multi-airport trip. Taking hits in time between flights to save a chunk of change, but extending the travel time by hours and hours.
This time between dreams is an exercise in waiting.
- How long can I pace around the terminal?
- How long has it been since I slept?
- How long have I been traveling?
To pass the time and save my back, I always find one of those carts. Rolling around is just so much easier on the shoulders when you have two computers and a microphone stuffed into your backpack.
My comfort standards go way down during layovers.
Depending on where in the world I am or how I booked the flight, I may have to deal with getting my bags and rechecking them. I don’t especially mind though, it helps pass the time and the sights and sounds of pre-security departures are inspiring.
The international scene of people saying goodbye and meeting again shifts when you get past security. All the farewells have been said and the stress of travel hangs overhead as the clocks tick closer to boarding time.
With such a long layover, I have front row tickets to the play.
Emotions rise and fall as everyone questions their motives while they recount their lines. It’s more genuine than I make it sound, but when you’re sleep deprived and travel worn these normal interactions become dreamlike.
The complete lack of control as an observer on the edge of sleep.
Dazed, I take another lap around the airport. With an airplane food filled stomach, I can only dream of spending money at the nicer restaurants as I pace around the terminal again.
I keep doing this for hours.
More than five hours.
Checking the panels for my flight information as time slowly progresses, wondering if I should have just booked a flight with a shorter layover.
One flight leaves after another with no applause or fanfare. Shops open and close as the day crawls on. When the sun starts laying down for the night I can tell it’s getting closer to my time.
As everyone gets in line more than a half hour before boarding begins I take my cue and sit beside the line as it slowly moves.
Why did everyone stand up so quickly before boarding?
Everyone’s in such a hurry to get on the plane. They can’t wait to wait in the crowded aisle as people reach over their heads to stuff bags into the overhead containers.
I guess waiting around gets people anxious. It is nice to not have to worry about missing your flight anymore.
Written by John Bauer of Comatose.
Comatose is a weekly series of amusing anecdotes, insightful commentary, and pithy stories. Every week three contributors are featured in short segments. The segments, though often unrelated, are tied together using music and narration to set the scene. Relax and enjoy the ride while listening to topics as varied as love, birthdays, and reciprocity.
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