The airport

I usually fly from Oakland and land in Burbank airport because they are both more convenient but because of the ridiculously expensive plane tickets during Thanksgiving season I had to opt for SFO to LAX with Virgin Airlines.

Everything I've heard about Virgin Airlines is pretty true. It's the new "hip" airline. They use Pandora to play the latest music at the gate while you're waiting to board, the plane itself is just newer. It's lined with dimmed purple lights that make you feel like you're inside of a bar or lounge rather than an airplane. Oh and the safety protocol announcements are all animated and not the same word for word announcement. It was the first time I actually paid attention to the whole thing in a long time. Oh, and did I mention-- the stewards? (What is the male version of stewardess? Flight attendant?) are pretty much all males and quite sharp looking! Like in that lean, sharp, well-put-together type way. I was kind of a wreck because a) I thought I was gonna miss my flight b) the mean lady at the counter told me my check-in bag was going to be separated from me and placed on a later flight at which point I'd have to wait another 2 hours for that plane to come. When I explained to the steward..flight attendant, he assured me it would make it. And sure enough, my bag is here and so am I!

The airport is such an interesting place. The one part I do like about international airports is that one moment, when you're coming down an escalator and there's the gate--and you know behind that gate is someone waiting for you. They may not have your name typed up on a white piece of paper or anything but you know that they are there, because they are waiting for you to come. And when you come down the escalators, you slowly scan the crowd for the person who's waiting for you, because you are waiting for them too. I loved watching people run into others' arms. I say I like this particular gate at international airports because usually the case is that international airports mean that someone flew a longer distance to get to their destination. So when they do see that person waiting at the gate, when they do run into that person's arms, it's probably been awhile. It just seems to make that embrace even more meaningful.

Home is comforting, home is familiar. I'm so excited I get to sleep in my bed of 12 years tonight :)