People watching is one of my most favorite things to do, for a whole bunch of different reasons. Anyone that knows me knows that I love fashion; shoes, clothes, accessories, the whole nine; people watching is perfect for that. However, another reason for people watching is what I see, the interactions between others fascinates me. As I sit here at Orlando International Airport, the people watching is at an all time high, of course the bloody mary I sip at 9:30am doesn’t hurt.
I wasn’t paying attention when I booked my trip to Florida, not realizing my return flight included a 5 hour layover in Orlando…so I find myself here at Ruby Tuesday’s, sipping a bloody mary, watching a waitress run her buns off with no help for 15 tables and a smile on her face. Some people are programed for that kind of high stress, high speed work, she is obviously one of them. I’m hoping her tips for the shift reflect her dedication to her customers, her demeanor and her incredible memory. I can’t influence others but I can make sure that my contribution to her style of living is respectable.
There’s also a table in front of me that is likely 3 generations of men; son, dad and grandfather. If I had to venture a guess there’s golf involved, and that’s purely speculative based on their attire. There’s some jovial ribbing from father to son, and back…grandfather sitting more quietly sipping his coffee. Is he thinking how proud he is of how his boy, and now his grandson, turned out? Was he the father that ribbed his son the way he’s seeing these two rib each other? Or, is he listening, wishing that he’d had that easy back and forth with his son that he’s witnessing, but was hindered by worries of having to feed a family raised during the depression? Whatever is going on in his head, the look in his eyes is incredibly easy to read; unconditional love. Makes me very grateful for the past 5 days spent with my folks and a couple with my brother. My parents weren’t perfect, I’m sure often distracted by the costs of having to raise a family and attempting to balance that with family values. But, when we get together, there’s nothing but love…an occasional jab sent with much love and respect, not always received as jovially, but the love is always there.
The table to the left of me is a couple and apparently, a friend they ran into here at the airport. The male half of the couple is quiet, unassuming, quick to smile but not much for conversation. His wife/girlfriend/significant other however, is having the most spirited conversation with this 3rd party that they ran into here. He’s adorable, all 4’10” of him. Reminds me of a professional jockey…kinda dressed like one too, but his personality is spring loaded. He may be small in stature, but makes up for it in the space his personality takes up. Dressed all in purple, hat, shirt, wind pants…he speaks a few decibels above those around him, makes grand hand gestures and laughs with every ounce of his 120 pound body. Even watching him text he does so with flair. I can imagine people are instantly either drawn to him to find out what makes him so full of life, or repulsed by his ability to live so freely. I’m content to sit here and listen to him regale his two breakfast companions with tales of his shenanigans while here in Florida. I’m apparently very tame…who knew?
Now I turn my attention to the 10 or 12 people that are dining alone this morning. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to be able to guess that the majority of these people are on their cell phones, strike that, all are on their cell phones. Comfortable behind their screens (I say this with the screen of my laptop as my security blanket) feeling less alone and vulnerable because they have “their people” in the palm of their hand. It’s not a new, earth shattering revelation to see people so uncomfortable with being alone that they HAVE to have their phones out rather than appear alone. Why? I’ve met so many amazing people (and almost as many not so amazing – if I’ve never told you about my flight to Brussels, remind me to) while I travel and refuse to take out my phone. I do respond to my emails and text messages, but refuse to allow my phone to be a barrier to being completely available to whatever/whomever crosses my path. And to the gentleman on the Bluetooth; Yes, sir, you do look like a douchebag…you’re sitting here doing nothing and you can’t be bothered to pick up your phone to speak? Come on…unless you’ve got a disability that doesn’t preclude you from moving your carry on but does prevent you from picking up your phone, pick up your damn phone.
I’ve now fallen in love with a young family; the parents in their mid-thirties and 3 kids all under the age of 6, and Grandma. The parents aren’t putting screens in front of the kids, they aren’t looking rushed or frazzled, they’re playing games. The mom, the dad and (I’m assuming) the grandmother, all engaged with the little ones. One playing This little piggy with the baby, one playing a card game I assume to be memory with the oldest, and one building edible towers with cut fruit. That’s the family I love to see now, but when I was a parent, hated because they made me feel woefully inept as a parent. I never managed a trip, by any mode of transportation that didn’t end up with one or both of the kids in tears and me looking like I just survived the bombing of Hiroshima. As a mom with small children, I didn’t want to see parents that were “crushing it.” I wanted to see, and bonded with, parents that were just as exhausted, frustrated and that were undoubtedly screwing up their kids, just like me. Now, with my kids grown and gone, I like to forget about the uncombed hair and dirty faces and reminisce about the parent I wished I had been, connecting emotionally with this mom, rather than the one I was….looking like 90% of the other mom’s travelling with small children.
Typically my blog is about observations I have that lead me to revelations, but not today. Perhaps my brain is still on vacation, maybe it’s just because I don’t have any deep thoughtful thoughts to contribute, maybe this one is meant to lead you to your own thoughtful thoughts…whatever the reason I’ll continue my people watching, but I’ll put my screen down so I can work on my people interactions rather than watching. I wonder what observations have been made about me….meh, who cares? Probably won’t start chatting with the dude on the blue tooth, his cologne level was just a bit too much for me….but maybe this group of 4 guys that just sat down who are on a trip to celebrate their buddies 40th birthday, starting at 10:37am with shots of tequila all around….