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Joe Buckley's Journal
People Watching
posted by at 05:07 AM on July 15, 2008
One of my favorite activities is people watching. Why? Probably because the fun to cost ratio is pretty nice, and you can do it most anywhere. Of course some places are better than others, but most anywhere in public will work. Well, ok, even some private places work with the help of binoculars or a telescope, but that’s borderline stalker material. Probably my favorite place to people watch is a large airport.
Anyone who’s traveled much knows how good a big, or crowded airport can be for some quality people watching. It’s something to help pass the time during delayed flights or long layovers. All the different types of people traveling to different places on the planet, some you can see are quite experienced, and others seem to have never left home before. Just like anywhere, they come in all shapes and sizes, and all different personalities as well. From the dull and boring, to the temper tantrum throwing, to the just plain crazy, I’ve been witness to almost everything.
Probably one of my most memorable people watching experiences was trying to get through security at the airport in Grand Junction, CO a couple years ago. Due to my not paying attention, I was stressing on trying to get through the security line to board the plane. As I heard my name being called over the PA, a middle aged woman who was a few places ahead of me in line pulled out two large zip lock bags full of liquids. She was immediately told by the TSA agent that only one bag would be allowed, to which she immediately began protesting. This carried on for a short time, holding up the line, until it became apparent that she would not be allowed to proceed without losing one of the bags. That was the point where the rational individual would give in and say, “ok, I’ll just toss out what I don’t need” and proceed. Unfortunately, this woman decided that it would be in her best interest to become even more upset and throw her second bag against the wall behind the TSA agent. Upon witnessing this, the TSA agent shut down the security line and radioed for security backup. That in turn made the woman realize she had made an error, and she then figured it would be best to start blubbering and apologizing at the same time. When this had no effect on the TSA agent, the woman decided to crank it up a few notches and lay down on the ground like a little kid and start totally wailing. While it was very entertaining to watch, my stress level was starting to redline, as it became apparent that I was the only one who had not boarded my flight, and here I was stuck watching this crazy lady. After a few minutes of this carrying on, security showed up and moved the woman out of the way so the security line could get moving again. I ended up missing my flight, but hey, at the end of the day, I made it to where I was going, and I got to witness something unusual.
Although the crazy lady was probably one of the most extreme people watching experiences, I’ve had many other interesting experiences with people at airports. Not sure what it is about airports that brings out the best in people, maybe it’s as they say, “true character is revealed when faced with adversity”. Or maybe true character is revealed when faced with waiting in line? For some reason, Europeans love to cut in line, at least in airports. It never fails, I’ll be waiting to check in, and here comes some guy or gal, just creeping into my personal space slowly but surely. With every slight advancement I gain in line, they advance just slightly more, until they are actually in front of me. Sometimes it’s pretty blunt, and sometimes it’s so subtle that you barely notice it. One of the best examples was on a flight out of Grenada Spain. I was one person away from the ticket counter, when an actual priest walks up and throws his bag next to the counter and stands right in front of me. Usually I don’t like to deal with confrontation in public places, but that was a bit much. I ended up having to move back in front of him, as well as remove his bag from the little check in scale. Lucky for me, the priest was a gentle man and did not throw a fit. However, he proceeded to cut off everyone behind me with a kind demeanor.
More recently, my wife and I had the pleasure of watching a slightly crazy (I use this term in a nice sort of way) gentleman purchase a coffee while we were waiting for a flight. This guy stuck out like a sore thumb, and as soon as we laid eyes on this guy, we knew we were in for a treat. He looked like he’d left for a spring break trip to Mexico about 15 years ago and just never made it back. He had two sombreros on, some crazy shades that looked like he stole from Macho Man Randy Savage, and some rather large earphones on (not sure how he got them on with the two sombreros). His shorts consisted of cutoff sweatpants that had passed their expiration date years ago, and he had a beat up old pair of work boots. Not that he was actually wearing the work boots though. No, these fine articles were caringly placed on the counter of the coffee vendor while he awaited his coffee. Meanwhile, his feet were covered with a pair of socks that looked like they rivaled the city dump for unique smells. Probably the funniest part was that he had engaged the poor barista in a one sided conversation about a number of random topics which obviously only the crazy guy was interested in. It was as if this guy hadn’t seen another human being in 10 years, and just had endless things he’d been dying to talk about during that time. And all of this oral streaming was directed at the poor barista. Part of it was funny because we’ve all been in a situation where you couldn’t get away from a talker, and part of it was funny because of how random this guy was. I think the best part about it was, that this “crazy” guy was just so stoked to be there talking, and waiting for his coffee. Maybe it was because he was heading to paradise somewhere, who knows. Whatever the reason though, that guy was stoked on life right then and there, and we were being totally entertained by it.
I could go on and on with hours of entertaining people watching stories, but then you’d probably begin to think I’m just as crazy as the people I’ve stood around and watched! Actually, I’m quite certain that I’ve done enough stupid stuff in public that others have been entertained from a distance, but that’s not so important here. Anyway, I’d like to hear a good people watching story from you. What’s the most entertaining people watching experience you’ve had? Or, what’s your favorite place to people watch? Maybe it’s the mall, a NASCAR event, or a Prince concert? Let me know, maybe the airport is for amateurs, and I’ve missing out all this time…
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Comments (2)
11:00 PM on July 17, 2008 UTC Robb Jankura wrote:
Hahaha! Nice topic!......Speaking of characters, one time on a flight, I saw Bozo the Clown sitting in first class drinking two glasses of champagne!!!! Bozo....the Clown!! HA!
05:37 PM on July 31, 2008 UTC id* wrote:
while airports unquestionably allow the best people watching - i would have to put Vegas as the all time #1 destination. i just came back from a weekend and the best part of vegas is that it just get better and better as the night goes along. plus whatever you are into you can wear in vegas. you want to wear cow-boy boots with jeans shorts and a tanktop! bring it. you want to put on tight leather pants and rock a tie-dye top! kick it. but however you roll in vegas. just act like you own it and everyone give you respect!