Thursday, December 20, 2007

A Traveling Day

So in honor of finals being over, I made this post a bright and happy PURPLE, as you can see. So it's been well over a month. How does that happen? I used to pray (literally PRAY) that the time could just please please please go a little bit faster. Just a hare. Now I can't keep track of where it's gone! Anywho. . .

Today I traveled. . .

Really Long Blurb #1
I finally got to the airport after ending up somewhere near bountiful (when you take the freeway from 400 north, you can't keep going north. It is already past the exit you want, just an FYI). Since I had just taken my last final, all of the stress had magically left my body in a state of bliss and content. It didn't matter that I missed my exit or that it was FREEZING outside or that I had to go through the entire parking garage only to find I couldn't park there. Check in was quick and easy and I didn't leave anything in my car. Check. Security lines were short. Check Check. Since I was in such a wonderful mood, I somehow got a little sentimental/emotinal about life in general and the billions of people we just pass by while living it. I was in line for security, and was noticing how adorable this young (or so I thought) girl was in front of me. She was the trendy/emo kind. You know. Skinny jeans that looked perfect on her skinny legs. Shoes your mother owned when you were born that just happened to look dashing on her. A cute black cardigansweartthingIcan'thinkofanamefor. Even her little braided rose headband screamed "i'm cute and innocent! Smile at me!" So I did. She glanced at me. I had literally just opened my mouth to compliment her on how darling she looked when it happened. A panicked, worried expression washed suddenly over her face as she realized she was missing something that was apparently extremely vital. How do I know this? The not so innocent girl uttered (or rather, hissed) a word that shall we say was less than dignified. Not classy. Not cute. Not innocent at all. I think my face was probably all smooshed and twisted in a strange way in surprise. Good thing she was too busy being crude to notice me.

Really Long Blurb #2
Then as I was sitting at the terminal waiting for my plane to arrive, I started to notice all of the different people sitting around me, sharing the same space for just a brief moment. I started to have some . . . gooshy? . . . thoughts, which were probably due the the Rachel Yamagata playing on my ipod. Nonetheless, I wondered about those people. The girl with the old, tapered jeans from 1984 who looked like she had never seen a brush in her life. She was smiling and laughing with her friend who seemed so opposit from her. They laughed light heartedly as they snapped shots of themselves with their camera, tilting their faces and pursing their lips with each new click. I wondered what is would be like the be the girl who sat accross from me, with her camo hat and her longboard glued to her foot. Behind her light, optimistic eyes there seemed a story of stress, emotion, longing. Then a very large but kind looking man asked if he could sit next to me in the only open seat. Of course, I whole heartedly encouraged him to sit down, flashing him an encouraging smile. Encouraging for what reason? I don't know. He just seemed unsure. Then about twenty minutes later a small boy came out, escorted by a flight attendant. He shuffled awkwardly toward the man, head down and hands in his pockets. The man bounded over to the boy with a grin as wide as. . . someone really happy. As the two embraced, something between them tugged at my heart strings that made me actually tear up. In the middle of the Salt Lake Airport. Then I got on the plane and this really friendly boy wouldn't stop talking to me. He was nice. So I ate my Ms. Vicky's Salt N Vinegar chips just in case he got a little too friendly.

Sorry these were so long! But hey. It's my blog. :)

3 comments:

Sarie said...

I love the descriptions. One always wonders what's going on in somebody's head when they're not "on" and "social" and "with others". Usually, when we're alone, we just observe.
Miss you girl. Welcome back to Utah.

Unknown said...

Katie, I'm so sorry I'm just getting caught up on your blog. I think you just didn't write anything for so long that I forgot to keep checking it! I love how you ate (very yummy) salt and vinegar chips to keep creeps away> thats a good tip!

Anonymous said...

Katie, you have become such an incredible woman. Everything I dreamed of and more; when you were that little girl in the picture.
I love to read everything you write. I miss you.