I recently returned home from a vacation where I traveled by airplane. Airplane travel is always an interesting proposition for lots of reasons. The biggest drawback to air travel is people because, well, people tend to be people and we all know how people can be.
All the usual airport people were there. People who try to drag 17 baggage items onto the plane with them. People who cart around every single item their child owns in a stroller even though that stroller must be packed up and stowed away during the flight. People who try to wrestle their carry-on bag, a backpack, a briefcase, an oversized purse, a pillow, a large pizza, a bag of chips, and an extra large soda down the gangway. People who absolutely, under no circumstances whatsoever, will put their cell phone away. You know, the usual cast of characters.
Because we arrived at the airport well in advance of our flight, we had lots of time to sit and observe these aforementioned people. And we saw some VERY interesting and disturbing people indeed. There were lots of these people:
Yeah, leggings. Leggings everywhere. I hate leggings. They don’t even look good on skinny people.
Despite it being December, we also saw a few of these people:
There were some rather festive people:
Cranky people, sleepy people, loud people, foreign people, you name it. They were all at the airport. But, the absolute jaw dropper was the guy with the glitter beard and mustache. Now, mind you, I did not see him at the airport, but I did see him while on vacation.
Photo by P. Rickrode. December 2018
I’m sorry the picture didn’t turn out the best but I was trying to get a good shot without being obvious. He was sitting at the table next to us and behind my husband, which made it nearly impossible for me NOT to look. His face sparkled. It was so weird. He had to have been swallowing bits of glitter with every bite. And yes, he was wearing snowflake pajama bottoms as well. Because, well, what else does one wear with a silver glitter beard and mustache if not blue snowflake pajamas?
And here’s the thing that made me cringe. Yes, I actually cringed when I saw this.
That’s right, one woman – by herself – was attempting to board a plane with five small children. FIVE. What is wrong with this woman? I’m not sure if this woman was a complete idiot or my hero. Good grief. Can you imagine?
Anyway, that’s it for this week’s stuff and nonsense. How about you guys; have you seen anything weird, wacky or wonderful lately? Any airport/airplane stories you’d like to share? Have you ever seen a guy with a glitter beard?
Word of the day: Uhlan
Fun fact about me: I try to travel without any carry-on bags that need overhead bin space.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, December 2018. Photos courtesy P. Rickrode and Google Images.
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jansenschmidt 
LOL Your trip sounds like it was to Walmart, not the airport!
I have short legs, so I stow my carryon beneath the seat in front of me. 🙂
Hope your vacation was as fun as it was interesting!
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It DOES sound like a trip to Walmart! I hadn’t thought of it that way, but sure enough, same host of oddballs.
I also stow my carry-on under the seat. It’s usually a large purse/totebag or sometimes backpack so it doesn’t take up that much space. If I’m only going away for a few days I will stuff everything into an actual carry-on suitcase and use the overhead bin, but that doesn’t happen very often.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
Patricia
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In the nearly 60 years I have been flying, I have seen it go from a thrilling, upscale experience for which we dressed up, to a low class and often demeaning experience for which many dress like they’re going to a gym workout. It has become a painful necessity to fly.
I do, however, remember one great flight. It was in the late sixties and we were on a red eye from Oahu to L.A. The plane was not crowded, Patty was asleep, so I went to the back of the plane and talked myself into a game of Pinocle with three stewardesses. It was only after I suggested a game of strip pinocle that they told me to go back to my seat. (Just kidding about that part, Patricia).
Good post. You have nailed the entire experience perfectly.
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Al, flying has indeed become a hassle. I remember my first flight; Sacramento to Honolulu. I was 19 years old. I felt like a movie star. My mother made me wear a dress. That’s when flying was indeed a privilege.
Now, it’s just a way to get from one place to another. And, like everywhere else, so many people feel entitled to stuff. Why? You pay for a seat, not an upgrade, not free drinks, not free movies. Good grief you’d think people paid a million dollars for their ticket the way they ask for stuff.
I miss the good ole days when you could play strip pinocle with the stewardesses on a plane.
Thank for visiting today. Enjoy the rest of your week. Stay warm. It’s cold out there.
Patricia
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I’ve never seen anyone as, uh, festively dressed as the glitter beard guy, but once when walking home from school I saw a guy in a full-on clown outfit – big fuzzy buttons on his shirt, floppy shoes, makeup, everything. He told me to vote for him because he was a… and then he named a political party. I won’t say which one – just imagine it was the one you like least.
You have some hilarious stories on this blog! I found it by stumbling across that outhouse post and now I think I’ll become a regular reader. (I left a reply to your comment on the outhouse post, by the way.)
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Hi Jane. Welcome. Thanks for stumbling in. Those are often the best blog friends. I did see your comment on my outhouse post. And I posted a response. And I posted a response on last week’s post as well. I usually only blog on Mondays. It’s hard being clever all week long so I let it all out on Monday and get it over with.
I imagine seeing an actual clown walking along would indeed be eye-catching. Definitely not something you see every day. Like the glitter beard guy. What in the world was up with that anyway? Just very strange.
Thanks for stopping by again. I hope to see you around again. Stay tuned or more silliness.
Patricia
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I saw your reply on the outhouse post, and I appreciate it. I left a reply to your reply.
Definitely looking forward to more silliness. Thanks for taking the time to write all this.
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Entertaining, Patricia. It certainly makes the trip seem shorter, doesn’t it. Plus, the possibility of any of this ending up in a book…awesome!
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Oh Sheila, you just know some of this stuff is ending up in a book. It’s too good to let go. You know what the say, the “you can’t make this stuff up.”
As always, thanks for visiting. Stay warm up there in the Great White North.
Patricia
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I bet the glitter-beard guy would have happily posed for you. I mean, anyone who puts glitter in his beard is dying for attention, right? And that woman who took five kids on the airplane must be amazing…there’s no way anyone would choose to travel alone with five young kiddos. I could barely keep track of one. I’m glad you had an entertaining time while on vacation and that none of those people were at Baer House – especially wearing those horrifying leggings. My eyes. They’re burning.
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Oh Coleen – I get the leggings folks checking in here at the inn too. I just don’t get it. I know they’re comfortable but, for the love of God, please cover up the lumps and bumps people. That’s why LONG shirts were created.
And yeah, the 5 small kids. No. Just no. What was that woman thinking? I mean, she’s supposed to stay in her seat with the seatbelt fastened. How can she even supervise little people in 2 rows of seats? Maybe she gave them all some Nyquil before take-off, I don’t know, but I’m glad I was not on that flight.
As always, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Mondays are always so much fun when I hear other peoples’ stories too.
Patricia
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