I love being in airports.

There's nothing quite like the concept of one place holding everything and everyone in transit.

All the drama and urgency of husbands coming home to their wives after a long and painful separation... The intensity of businessmen all wrapped up in thought on how to close that major deal... The innocent joy of good little boys and girls whose loving parents are bringing them face to face with Mickey Mouse in Disneyland... The silent reverie of priests/monks/assorted religious threading their way closer to God/Buddha/nature/whomever or whatever it is that they worship... The tears and broken hearts of lovers geographical distance has pulled apart... The shy but interested smile exchanged between two single travelers who serendipitously find each other through Cupid's hand in seat assignment... The "orgasmic" thrill of the fashionista who has just purchased the perfect scarf (after an exhausting but blissful shopping escapade, the international and duty-free world of retail just a platinum card's beckon away)... The amusement of a nationalistic upon seeing so many skin colors and hearing so many tongues--fond at the idea of such variety, yet the idea of home firmly engraved in his spirit... The gratitude each elderly and handicapped feels after being extended every accommodation and assistance by the well-trained and friendly airport staff.... The satisfaction felt by every individual afflicted with wanderlust for which every take-off and touchdown means getting closer to that much-awaited adventure of a lifetime...

These are just some of the stories behind each name on the millions of tickets airlines worldwide process everyday.

So much emotion, and thought, and motive, and story - all housed under one 24/7 roof...

* above piece written via O2 notes at the Hong Kong International Airport while awaiting boarding (March 17, 2007 8:30-9:00 PM) then sync-ed with office PC for web publishing

ORIGINAL PUBLISHING: Fairytale Not in Multiply