The Terminal

My flight to India took me to JFK airport in New York. I have never been to this JFK airport before. I couldn't have imagined it better. The city has a big and complex airport.

I was traveling the day before thanksgiving and it is considered as the one of the busiest day for US travelers. My flight from Richmond to New York was a bumpy ride due to the bad weather. It is never a great time in the small single jet planes especially in the not so supportive weather. However, I was least bothered about that since I was already at New York airport. My next flight was 6 hours away and I had to spend that time alone at the terminal.

Did I say alone? I was wrong. There is no way that you are alone in any terminal of any airport and definitely not in New York.

I look around me and I see people. No!! Not dead people like some freak in some freak movie. I see people of every ethnicity and every age; the most diverse crowd that you can ever see. If I forget that I am in New York City, it will nearly impossible for me to identify the country I am in.

I remember the movie ‘Love Actually’ whose theme revolves around people that arrive to meet their loved ones. That was a great story and was apt for the arrival gate. However, I am standing at the departure gate and the theme here is a little different.

One thing that is common for all people at the departure gate is time. Unlike today’s world, people have time at their doorstep. People hate waiting for their flight. However, they do not realize that this is a blessing in disguise. People have to do something with their time in hand. So what do you do?

I look around and see people engrossed in various activities. There is a lady who is walking around a jewelry store. I am fairly confident that she will not buy anything from the store. However, she loves to look at the different designs and loves to have the option of not choosing anything. Her husband (I assume) is sleeping on a bench few yards away holding her bag. I cant help seeing the satisfaction on his face. It’s like a baby face who has just received the best gift he can hope for. Well, how many times will he be able to sleep at 6:30 pm without anybody bothering him.

A British couple is busy checking the flight schedule. They are busy making their plans for the next few hours while their kids cannot stop running around. They are soon joined by few other kids and in no time there will be bunch of kids who will start playing. These kids have never met and I doubt if they will ever meet again. However, that does not dampen their spirit.

I can hear an Indian couple sitting right behind me. I cannot see them (until I turn around) but cannot help myself listen to their conversation. The husband is talking about his wife’s earrings. How many of you guys can admit that they notice their partner’s earrings or talk about them? The wife does not care about this and is happy to answer his questions.

There are people that are busy digging in their burgers/ fries and few that are wandering around the terminal looking at the duty free shops. There are others who are busy on their cell phone and are least bothered about their whereabouts. They are laughing, crying; they are communicating whole heartedly; something that you won’t do at home or at work. People are just being them selves.

The terminal just brings the natural YOU out of everybody. There are no dependencies, liabilities or any chores to complete. This is a time that is normally considered as a waste but is actually important for you to just sit back and relax. It is an unscheduled time; something that is difficult to plan in our day to day life. Everybody is trying to spend time in a way they want to. As you see, even I am doing the same. What else would make me sit and write a blog at any place other than my home?

I can’t help myself being observant and try to put them in words.