Why We Should Let Ourselves Feel the Magic of the Airport

I am sitting at Dulles International airport, sipping on some mediocre champagne. To my left is a window that looks onto the tarmac to gate C 11. When I arrived at this bar, there was a plane at the gate. But the plane was gone when I finished my first glass of champagne and plate of over-priced fish tacos.

I am the last human on Earth who ACTUALLY loves being at the airport. I am one of those people who gets to the airport earlier than they should. I do this because I want to ensure I get to the airport and my gate with time to spare. You never know what shitstorm you will hit on I-495 driving from Maryland to Virginia. I even got TSA Pre Check to breeze through security, but I am always nervous about missing my flight.

 But deep down, the reason I get to the airport hours before my flight isn't for champagne or beer before take-off; it's because the airport is magical! 

Okay, follow me here. I promise I am not drunk as I write this.

Yes, I know travel has changed a lot; it's super hard to travel nowadays with all the delays, cancelations, rude people, and those not knowing what the hell they are doing. Seats are terribly small for the price we pay to fly, and airport food and drinks are okay at best for what they cost us.

But stay with me.

If you can pretend for a hot minute that you are a child and believe in magic and science, then it will help.

We come to this building with planes waiting to take us to our destination. Each day thousands and thousands of planes take off and land. One part of the day, you are in America, and on the same day, you are in England. Or, one part of the day, you are in DC, and later that day, you are in Colorado. When you take a moment to think about this, it's magical. You are in a seat (probably too small unless you upgrade) 30,000 feet in the sky. Everything below you looks like little Lego pieces; the next thing you know, you are in a different state or country!

It was 23 October 1945 when the first Transatlantic flights began. We have only been experiencing this magic for 77 years. Back then, traveling was a big deal. If you could afford the ticket, you dressed up to the nines, and it was a Great Gatsby Party. People were excited to travel because they could finally do it and knew how lucky they were.

You are still thinking: 

Bel, you had too much champagne. 

My response is:

Nope.

As adults, we forget to look for magic. We are too busy running from point A to point B or getting annoyed at life when things don't work the way we want them to. And I am the first to admit that I do this, especially with people who don't know how to get through security, even with TSA pre-check

But we must stop. Take a breath and let the magic take us instead of frustration.

As I write this, another plane has come to the C11 gate, the second plane I have seen since sitting at this bar. I am sure this won't be the last flight out for the day. A gentleman was next to me as I was writing this. We started a conversation and then stopped for a while until I laughed out loud. He asked what was so funny. I told him I was sending two of my friends (the one I’m visiting in London and another in Colorado) an excerpt of this post, and they both agree I am the only human who thinks airports and traveling are magic. I told him this, and he said no, I am not.

Come to find out, he lives overseas and works in air traffic control; not sure what he does, but he had a nice suit on. He agreed with my assessment and proudly said he, too, believes in the science behind the magic. This made me smile. Have you ever had a moment when you feel like a random stranger knows you more than anyone else in the world? That, my friend, is what I felt.

More magic!

An airport is a magical place that legit brings people together and sometimes apart. The powers of an airport are like the powers of the moon's strong gravitational pull, bringing you to meet random people and forcing you to live in that moment.

Next time you are at the airport, and you feel annoyed at the world, remember the magic of this building and how you are in one location one minute, and next, you are 30,000 feet up, heading to your new destination.

Keep that magic alive….