No More Bookstores

As I wander through the airport for taking off for London, trying to keep moving for the long enforced the overnight flight, I suddenly realized: no bookstores. I saw one small newsstand with maybe a couple of dozen books, a few newspapers, a paltry stack of magazines, but no expensive, serendipitous shelves of untouched books. No place to stumble upon an engaging read to distract the mind from the drone of the engines.

We have arrived in the brave New World. Everyone travels with electronics. Who needs books or captivating magazines?

I, of course, am right there with them. My e-reader is loaded with approximately 450 books, so it is not as though I am in danger of running out of something to read. It is more likely that I will run out of battery, as the e-reader is showing signs of the death rattle and did not appear to charge properly, despite 16 hours of feeding at the plug.

I am eating before getting on the plane as getting food that won’t make me feel pretty unlikely with airline fare. It’s really better this way. By skipping dinner on the plane, I may be able to sink into some sleep sooner, knowing that at approximately 3:30 AM my body time, the lights in the cabin will suddenly be switched on. The flight attendants then must rush to get us awake enough for morning coffee and tea and light breakfast and customs forms and lang.

I stopped at a place that said “gluten-free available” and was served a plate of wonderful grilled salmon with a double order of mixed vegetables. Good choice of eateries.

I keep hearing people moaning over the general sloppy dress of travelers, but I am not seeing that here. Perhaps not too many in suits these days, but everyone is neatly dressed.

And, of course we do have that much announced obesity epidemic weighing down the American people. Apparently none of the obese are flying tonight out of terminal D in Dallas. It is possible that because of the nature of shrinking airline seats, expanding Americans are choosing not to subject himself to the discomfort and indignity and are simply not flying.

I wonder if the airlines have considered the economic implications of the minuscule seats.

Speaking of seats, when I checked in, the seat that had originally been assigned to me was in the middle of a row of five, about as uncomfortable as it can get. Since I am not looking a gift ticket in the mouth, I figured I would just make it work, but the nice young man who helped with the self-service check-in (so it wasn’t self-service, was it?) showed me all the empty seats available and together we chose an aisle seat on an empty row. Nice to know I’ll be able to use the lavatory if necessary!

The ability to travel extensively used to belong almost exclusively to the wealthy and leisure class. It was a mark of passage to do the year-long world tour or summer in Europe. It was a necessary part of education for one would have claims to be a gentleman, (gentlewoman?), aleader and opinion maker in society.

I’m hardly wealthy but suppose am leisured now in retirement. Even so, I have been able to travel to a fair number of places. Mexico and Canada, of course. Add Peru and Colombia, Australia, France, Kazakhstan, England and New York City. Yes,New York City is a foreign land to most Texans.

So a lot, but it really hardly anything. I long to take the trans-Siberian train from Moscow to Vladivostok. Crazy, but I’ve wanted to for most of my life. Never seen Africa, and nothing of the far east.

But each trip I have been able to take his broadened me, helped me see past my usual blinders, toppled prejudices, and reminded me of how little I know.

I shall board soon, so now endeth this the first installment of the travels with Christy, Spring 2014 edition.