Thursday, July 18, 2013

On Airports

The best part about airports lies in what they symbolize. Airports are places of bookends: new beginnings and long-awaited endings, arrivals and departures, hellos and goodbyes. We start in one city to end in another hundreds or thousand miles away. You enter from a desert and exit into a blizzard. In from winter, out into summer. In from familiarity, out into something completely foreign. Or vice versa. An airport is a place of transit, and not just geographically. I wish there was some sort of time-lapse to show how people change between departures and arrivals. When I arrive back home from being away, I’m never the same person as when I left.

— Alex Brueckner

13 comments:

Unknown said...

ayyy... as soon as I read the first words "the best part about airports..." I knew this was an argument I was going to disagree with ha.. it's a lovely way of seeing them, the way he describes airports.. but, I do must say.. I HATE them.. I hate waiting, the lines, the luggage, the process, the taking everything off including shoes, socks, rings and bandanas to cross the metal detector thing... I can't stand them.. I say.. that not airports, but airplanes are the ones that take you to one place or another and are the fun part of all that airport experience.. what do you think?

Unknown said...

Intellectually/philosophically, I agree with this quote wholeheartedly but in actuality, I always feel excited heading anywhere, depressed heading back and generally sad in transit.

Jess said...

Ohhhh what a great quote! I always knew I liked going to the airport (even if I'm just picking up or dropping off) but I could never put my finger on what it was...

(PS I'm currently trying to figure out how to make that Kid Cudi cover my new ringtone)

Camila Faria said...

So true. I kinda love airports on departures and hate them on arrivals.

maria said...

great to read through this.
reminds me of my travels and how I try to keep so positive upon my return but there's always a little pinch of sadness for the travels that have come to an end - seeing beautiful people miles away from home, visitng a new place...all that. hmph...this is making me long for another trip away!

maria said...

here i am again, hogging your comments space.
i used to work in retail at an airport. was one of the greatest (retail) jobs I had through my uni days. Even though I was without the all important plane ticket (minor detail) I still felt as though I was getting away from everything - the feeling when you're in the departures lounge waiting for your flight to be called. Kind of an amazing "in limbo/on hold" feeling.
don't know why I had to rush and share this, but there you go! :)
have a great w/e xx

Thelma Frayne said...

Nooooo Ivette, I have to disagree, it's the airports that hold all the promise. I love airports so much, particularly waiting in arrivals for someone... or coming through arrivals searching the crowd for that face.

Maria, I love your little stories. Keep sharing them xx

Unknown said...

maybe 'cause I've had such bad experiences.. they've lost my luggage 3 times!! and returned it a week later! and one time some stuff were missing from my suitcase! ..major drama I made for that incident, I remember clearly... mmmmm noo haha I don't like airports.. it's a love-hate relationship I guess ha

Ashley said...

I've always felt this way about airports, I think I even wrote a post on it. I'm a happy girl when I'm at one, even if I'm waiting in line, cause it means I'm going somewhere!

k said...

i LOVE airports, and i love this quote.

Erin said...

I'm reminded of the opening lines of "Love, Actually" about Heathrow airport. I love airports. Forget the security headaches, the excitement of everyone going somewhere different is so boundless and delightful. You could write a whole book based on watching people in the airport. Okay. That will be my next book. xo

Diana Mieczan said...

This is so true and I adore airports. Totally bookmarking this quote. Muah

Thelma Frayne said...

I will be reading that book Erin.