So I’m back in the airport awaiting my return flight to NC with a much worse attitude than I had when I arrived in Chicago. It was snowing here (an expected 3-7 inches) and it was supposed to rain cats and dogs in NC. I was convinced I was not going to get off the ground today.
I stocked up on magazines (Self and Health), a water bottle, and Chex Mix. It would probably surprise you to know how many “workout plans” or fitness goals I create for myself while waiting for a flight. I suppose it is the only time that I truly sit without much electronic stimuli as a distraction.
I settle into the gate across the “walkway” from my own, as usual. The people around me are headed toward Las Vegas and then San Francisco—unless, of course, they are smart like me and watch their fellow passengers clog up the NC gate.
I position myself so I can watch the information about my flight as it changes. About an hour passes. It’s 15 minutes until the scheduled departure time. I know we are delayed but for some reason then did not smash the “delayed” sticker over our freedom time. A small portion of my heart hopes that we are somehow going to take off at 12:55 as scheduled.
I reluctantly meander over to the correct gate area at 12:47. I figure I should probably listen to what they are saying over the intercom. The gate is an explosion of people, suitcases, coats and McDonalds trash. I lean against the barrier’s that separate the gate from the walkway and then I see her.
Cry-voice.
A foot in front of me.
I have leaned against a barrier that is exactly one foot from cry-voices’ face. Unbelievable. I was so surprised I smiled.
How unlikely is that! We were on the same exact flights! She had a nasty cough this time around and I thought, “How peaceful”. Then I got to wondering, “Will her cough make her voice sound like a normal persons?!”. I was so curious I almost thought about striking up a conversation with her. But then I knew better.
Thankfully, a couple that she knew recognized her!
Couple walking by: “Chris! Hey! How are you?!”
Cry-voice Chris: “Well Heellloooo! What are you guys doing here?!”
(“probably catching a flight”-I say in my head)
Couple walking by: “Headed back to NC, are you on this flight?”
(“No, Chris isn’t. She is on the 5:00p tonight but she just got here early. . .”-I think to myself)
Cry-voice Chris: “Yeah! What section are you? Are you A people?”
Couple walking by: “Yeah, what are you in?”
Cry-voice Chris: “I’m a B person! B 27!”
I immediately stop listening to their conversation and think, “OH no. She’s after me. What if she sits down next to me and I cannot write about her? What if we strike up a friendship? What if we become traveling buddies from now on and I’m able to, 5 years down the road, ask Chris why her voice is like that?”
Then I return to earth from my crazy thoughts and watch the A section board. Then I board. I sit down next to the window (my signature spot) and close my eyes. I can’t watch.
I open then up a sliver to see cry-voice coming right at me.
Oh my gosh. I deserve this.
She takes a seat in the row across and back from me and cracks out her The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama novel.
I will not go there.
Hopefully this will be my final blog about cry-voice. But, in all likelihood, it won’t be. We seem to have similar taste in flight schedules. I will surely update you on my travels will her, should there be more in my future.
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