5 AM at the Airport
It's 5 AM at the airport on a Sunday morning.
I’ve seen 6 Santa Claus hats, 5 small dogs, 4 frustrated TSA Agents, 3 people running, 2 “Don’t Talk To Me Until I’ve Had My Coffee” Shirts, and 1 toddler meltdown.
It is always a big time at the airport.
The restaurant next to my gate is blasting ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas.
It’s always too early for that song.
My flight for LaGuardia takes off in an hour, which gives me enough time to people watch.
It is creepy if we call people watching, “watching people,” but if we call it “people watching” it feels more like an activity and less like stalker behavior.
But I am watching people.
All of them.
The woman across from me has eaten three Almond Joys and downed a large iced coffee.
We’ve made eye contact more times than I’d like to admit.
A few seats over is a man drinking a beer because time doesn’t exist in the airport.
An older gentleman is walking up and down the terminal. I overheard him tell someone that he’s trying to get 5,000 steps before he gets on the flight.
I’m trying not to.
Across from me is a family of four.
The boy and girl are about 12 and 10, but it’s hard to say.
No one looks their age anymore.
The girl is bouncing with excitement.
She’s got a black sweatshirt that says “NEW YORK” in sparkly rhinestones.
She is singing Taylor Swift and twirling.
She just twirled a little too hard and spilled syrup on her sweatshirt.
Burger King’s french toast sticks are a challenge for all of us, especially at 5 AM.
Taylor Swift’s biggest fan seems to be a little upset with herself, but her mom tells her it’s going to be okay and that it could be worse.
Most of my childhood memories are of my mom telling me that it’s going to be okay and it could be worse.
The brother is doing what most older brothers try to do: play it cool.
He is reading a book, occasionally looking up to make sure everything is okay.
He isn’t smiling, but he is also trying not to smile.
Older brothers do their best to hide their emotions.
I know this because I have one.
Younger siblings dance in the middle of the aisle and forget other people are around and spill syrup on themselves. I know this because I am the younger sibling and did this last week.
7 middle aged women just sat down by me and it is no longer quiet.
It is the complete opposite of quiet.
I just know they are going to clap when the plane lands.
I can no longer hear the little girl sing Taylor Swift, but I am learning a lot about menopause and what pills to take for osteoporosis.
3 of them have already said, “Girlsssss trippp!” while throwing their hands in the air.
I am happy for them, but right now I am a little sad for me.
However, they just mentioned that they are teachers and I feel obligated to buy each of them a beer.
There are plenty of open seats in the gate, but a man decided to sit right behind me.
His head is 3 inches from mine, but it’s back to back, not front to front.
I am uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as I could be.
I’ll be okay.
It could be worse.
About the Author
Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.
He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.
You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.
His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.
You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.
