I never meant to waste a day of my life at an airport, but what do you know? it happens she said, I am reffering to the lady who denied me access to the plane upon my stupid late arrival. I was right next to the gate, watching the Istanbul crowd make their boarding, waiting to embark. What I did not notice was my watch was one hour behind!

I know it does happen, and I have been there many times. What happens next is the anxiety levels and anger start to fade away and make way for reality to kick in. I make my way to the not so friendly airport staff, and start to say to myself what next? well, once you say that, it gets worse.The staff was a trainee, with a manager teaching her how not to do it, with all the arrogance of the Germans and the show off attitude of a male training a beautiful young girl” what do you think we have planes going out every hour to Jeddah?” was his answer when I said I have to be home for important work…typical.

So what do you do? went to the airport Sheraton, walking distance, I had with me a carry on that felt so heavy I swear I could just throw it and feel free, but then again thought of the not so happy people back home who wanted what was in the bag from chocolates and other goodies they like. Made it to the Hotel, actually took off every single thing I was wearing, ran to the shower, dried up opened the TV and slept it off.

I could have wandered in the city of Frankfurt for a day, but that’s old news to me. So I slept and woke up, and only then did I notice my watch was late one hour, I suddenly imagined myself tom hanks living in the airport after missing my second flight home. When I woke up, I did feel hungry and that 100 gram hand made choclate with hazelnuts for five euros did not do me good except for some extra centimeters around my waist. I walked out of the hotel, not naked of course, down to the airport empty aisles, across the long waiting areas and down to the famous burger place mcdonalds.

I grabbed my meal, somked my puff, made it back watching and revisiting my life in streaks of lightning. I miss my family, noticed my age, wanted to change again, knew I was in transit already, started to get these strange feelings and ideas about the next in line, my children.

You see, when you grow up, you do grow up with all the bits and pieces and experiences you go through in life, not what you get in school. I wonder about my boy, can I just implant what I know already in his head so he won’t go through any troubles in life? what about my baby girl and what she will be facing when she starts to wonder off in life, travelling to far away lands and places meeting and interacting with the many faces that come through her life?

I start to fear those people, I pray they stay away from what I have been through and seen, even if it was an experience. I wish I could wave a magical wand and move harm from their way. I watch the father with his little boys scrambling in the coffee shop, bored and wanting to play, way past their bed time, tired and confused, but comforted by the warmth of their parents.

I look at the tired faces and the happy faces, the lost and well travelled, the sick, the cleaner, the police officer drinking his coffee, the taxi driver jungle, I hear the businessmen impressing one another on what they know, the loud voices of the drunken bunch echoing through the walls of the hotel bar. Many things seem to be moving in slow motion now that I have nothing but to reflect on my life.

I take myself and place my butt infront of the pc to type my words, I am happy that my watch is in sync so I do not miss my flight again, I wonder what you all are doing, snugged away at your favorite spots, reading my words worlds apart, I miss you all, and promise you musch more in the coming days, as my reflections have uncovered many things I wish to share with you and get your usual insight on things we take lightly yet mean the world to us.

When you are alone you see clearly, when you are with someone you like what you see and enjoy it. I like what I see and enjoy what I don’t.

Airports are a great place to watch people and see human interactions at its best, even when you miss a flight, embrace the moment.

Now if you excuse me, I have many books and magazines I can’t wait to get my hands on! I love you all, and excuse my short and out of the box note for today, it was a rough one….smile