International Airports

I wrote this several weeks ago, while I was waiting to fly out to Ohio to visit Katy. Sitting in places with nothing better to do and a notebook and paper apparently makes me write about them. I just remember being reinvigorated seeing the Multi-faith prayer room sign. It made me think about all the people who pass through "globalization's legacy". Some many different creeds, cultures, beliefs. All made to be the same, if only for a brief moment.

And so, to paraphrase Stephen Wright: "I wish when I'd started this, I could have written 'Quote', so when it's finished, I could write 'Unquote'."

"Quote:

International airports are epitome of globalization’s legacy. Multi-faith prayer rooms. By default, people from all countries. All ages and abilities. All kinds of stories. A great place to people watch. People stopped at random by metal detectors. Utter trust. The arbitrary questions. Did you pack this yourself? Of course, you did, but it’s your word against his. And you’re trusted. This might be a touch optimistic from this seat in departures.

But you don’t have to be optimistic.

The failure rates are astonishingly low.

The standards far higher than many of globalization’s other glorious creations.

The internet, for instance, is constantly “letting people down”. And yet, my desire to mimic historic people like Hemingway and Picasso, coupled with the “it’s so nice to write on/well made” cliché, drove me to Moleskines. Ironically however, this will be first read here, on this blog. Even though I’ve written it here. It’s here for posterity, but it will be online forever.

Is it more ‘real’ because it’s hand written?

Does it mean something more?

International airports make me very optimistic about the future.

Partly because of the levelling aspect. No matter “who you are” (unless you have your own jet), you have to go through the same machinations. Everyone goes through the metal detectors. Everyone must agree to be searched, tacitly or otherwise. Even the pilots get on through the same gate. Everyone has their passport checked. Largely people accept this.

This is interesting. One doesn’t notice ego at airports. People are patient. (Not withstanding Louis Black’s bit on the way people eulogize their experiences.) Things happen when they happen. It’s almost Dao-esque. The acceptance of the present.

Unquote."