People watching at the airport is almost as much fun as at the State Fair – if you’re not stressing out. I take a page from my mother’s playbook and always get to the airport with way too much time so I’m not usually too worried about time in the TSA line.
There was a pretty long line on Saturday so there was plenty to watch. The most interesting was the young couple in front of me. When I first noticed them, the young man was wearing a fairly large, stuffed backpack and handling a big carry-on as well. The young woman was unencumbered. Before I had a chance to process that, she tried to take over carry-on duty. He wouldn’t let go of the bag. She was mad. She ripped it out of his hands and if looks could kill, he would have been a goner. Then he made two really bad mistakes. First he tried to take the bag back and when she spoke to him in a stern voice, he smiled. I wanted to say “ooh, buddy, bad move” but I didn’t need to. She blasted him and they didn’t speak for minutes until they got right up to the TSA desk. I didn’t see them again.
Our plane wasn’t at the gate on time – late from its last stop I assume. There was a red-haired woman who was just freaking out about this. Not enough to get security called on her, but enough that all of us in the waiting area heard every word. She somehow seemed to think that the gate agent could magically make a plane appear. After venting her spleen she wandered off; I didn’t see her come back. There weren’t any other flights that were leaving any time around the time of our flight so I don’t know what she did. Maybe she had a couple of stiff drinks and was the last one onto the plane?
Of course when the plane did come and we were all loaded, the pilot made an announcement about some outside door flap being frozen. Twenty minutes they said, which is airline speak for “at least an hour”. We were going to St. Louis, so I’m guessing from the flurry of panicked phone calls, there were quite a few people with connecting flights. The woman in front of me was positively melting down about it. I wasn’t connecting although my sibling gathering was planned for that afternoon. No meltdown from me.
We made most of the hour up in the air so I was in time for the sibling gathering but not enough time to stop at the deli to pick anything up for the party!
How do you like to pass the time while waiting?
Trail Baboon 
In crowded places, people watching is always fun. I find I’m most intrigued by the hats, t-shirts, and shoes people wear. I think those items tell more about the person than other garments, jewelry, or even tattoos and piercings. (The last two just mean the person is weird in my book.)
While waiting alone, I like to read. If outside, I’ll just try to enjoy/absorb the nature around me.
Chris in Owatonna
LikeLiked by 4 people
I take the train. Because it moves on its own time, and I make few connections, I just relax. Amtrak has a sale on until January 17th, 10 segments for $299. You buy now, and ride later on. I have chosen to go during the first part of February. I’m headed from Michigan to California by way of St. Louis (to see friends) and then zipping around from San Diego to Ventura. The eventual ride back, from LA to Michigan, will cost me all of $60. Can’t beat it. (Plus, the train between Chicago and LA has no wifi, so I’ll be computer free for days and days.)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ooohhh, train envy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spend a lot of time waiting for buses. I usually have a book with me, though it’s frequently a bad idea not to pay attention to my surroundings (it’s also a bad idea to look at other people too long, and especially to make eye contact, so I rarely people-watch). If I can’t read, I look at plants/trees/animals/birds, or think, or daydream. I composed a personal prayer-bead/rosary cycle a while back, so sometimes I will pray, though I don’t bring my beads out unless I know I’m in a safe area.
–Crow Girl
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’ll watch videos while waiting.
“Now boarding anyone who is not cranky.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love to read and that’s usually what I choose to do. I also like to bring a small knitting project. When I’m knitting or crocheting, it’s easy to glance up at people to see what’s going on. People watching can be interesting and informative.
Crowds are nerve wracking for me. I tend to stop reading or whatever I’m doing and just observe the people around me. I try to stay out of the way and let the people who are more vocal or impatient have their way.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It depends on the kind of waiting. If standing in line is involved, and if I have decided it’s worth my time to stand in a line, I’ll people watch and also just let my mind drift. If I am waiting sitting down, I always have a selection of books on my phone. I can also just relax and disengage in a sort of free-flow mental state, almost meditation. I don’t need to be thinking anything in particular.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mostly reading – if I know there’s a long wait at the post office, say, before Christmas, I’ll bring a book. Now, of course, I have my cell phone (if I’ve remembered to bring it).
When Husband and I used to fly, we’d bring a cribbage board, and play in our flight’s waiting area. Got some appreciative comments on that one…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rise and Take a Look, Baboons,
I people-watch, read or play solitaire on the ipad and time zips by. Prior to the agonizing hip pain, I would also walk the airport for exercise. I hope to return to that habit soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am usually too anxious in airports to do more than sit and bury myself in my phone. I like to watch people, too. I find myself critiquing parents, but that is due to my work with children.
LikeLiked by 2 people
my phone offers the multitude of options desired
an hour or two can be made to disappear
LikeLiked by 2 people