Random Airport Encounter

Flying on a regular basis provides so many things. Frequent flyer miles, Hotel points, opportunities to see new things, a knowledge of how to travel smartly, opportunities to meet new people. Again, so many things.

This past Monday evening, I was provided a new opportunity, one I had not encountered before.

I arrived at the airport, checked in & checked my luggage & went to the security line to head towards my gate.

In front of me was a man, a little taller than me, looking around at everything.

I could understand. There are so many people to see (read: watch & observe) in the airport. Nothing new there - I'm definitely a people watcher.

We shuffled forward and he was a little wobbly. No biggie, maybe he self medicated, but he was still standing & appeared coherent.

Except that he kept looking back at me and staring at me, trying to make eye contact.

I knew what that meant. I felt my hand to make sure my rings were turned & sparkly in his face. I lowered my head a little and avoided eye contact.

I was almost to the checkpoint when he spun around & waved his hand in front of my downturned face. At this point, I had to make eye contact. And I would rather had plucked my eye out.

He leaned in & laughed. He told me he just had to say "Hello". And the stench of liquor hit me. At 4:50 in the afternoon, he was plowed. Probably still from last night.

I lifted my eyes to the ceiling & said, "Save Me."

And then the line ground to a halt.

I was trapped. Trapped with a totally plowed man who wanted to talk to me & leer at me. At this point, I wished my mother hadn't taught me any manners.

But she did, so I smiled nicely, shifted away from him & used my laptop bag as a shield to ensure there was space between us.

He leaned over to the security guard and handed her his ticket & license once we started moving again. She handed his back to him & reached for mine. As I handed them over, the man leaned over to the guard and told her, "She's going to Maine, or so she says."

I leaned over to the guard, retrieved my ticket & license and told her, "And he's still drunk from yesterday & needs his toothpaste & toothbrush. Could you make sure it's not seized?"

See? So many new things to learn when you travel.