7/5

In the delta terminal of seatac airport I sip my decaf Americano, black of course, and polish of the remains of the dry cinnamon scone. I am waiting to board my 14-hour direct flight to Hong Kong. The time there is 3 am, I will need to knock out fast, I’d like to get in sync with their time. Perhaps that can be solved with the help of sleeping pills.

Around me, small hints of Hong Kong bleed in. Whether its my attentiveness misguiding me or a tangible difference in plane clientele, I don’t know. The Chinese lady across from me has curly hair, messy and short. It’s that burnt orange color so common amongst Asians who attempt to bleach their dark hair.  She dons a colorful silk shirt and gold trinkets adorn her.

To my left a child is watching a death match between a wasp and a scorpion, it looks vicious. His sister, can’t be older than 5, is wearing a pink jumpsuit and attempting handstands throughout the terminal. Failing but persisting. Over and over again. Her determination is admirable but like most young people, she tries the same technique over and over, not taking time to think how she can change her technique to improve her chance of success. It could be a muscle issue as well. No matter, she’s finally giving up…. Never mind, I lied. She’s back at it again.

Everyone around is watching now, a shared laugh. Cheers everyone up before the long ride we are all dreading.

A couple, white, looks out of place. Dressed like their just walking out of tilly’s circa ’95; alpine stars shirts, all black clothing, with puffy skate shoes. Seems like the 909ers who most certainly swarmed Newport for the 4th of July yesterday.

The girl is reading Eat Pray Love, her acned face and disgusted look t the child gymnast give off a “homer” vibe. I hope travelling sets her right. Eat pray love comes off to me as a joke of a travel book.. Reading one woman’s modest transformation intertwined with a boring love story. Sure, I’d love to write a travel book like that, but as millions of American are tempted to travel because of it, I fear people will begin travelling for the wrong reasons, or maybe no reason at all. Hong Kong is said to be a shoppers’ paradise. Well I have no interest in this addiction. Why buy things there when you can by them at home for half the price? Either way, most clothes seam gaudy and re most certainly overpriced; I wonder what their quality is like.

This terminal has rocking chairs, is this to cater to chinese customers or is that a new thing?

Humans are a strange species; we have figured out ways to mask deficiencies. Yet, so many of us are flawed, let themselves fall into disrepair. Do animals senses this? Do they treat others of their own differently because of cleanliness, health and spirit?