At the revolving doors of YOW, I lumbered out of the taxi with uncharacteristic despondency. I don't remember self-tagging my luggage. My pace didn't quicken when I noticed the passengers behind me in the security line twitch with impatience as I fished for electronics and liquids in my large and disorganized duffle.
I fly enough now to chalk the airport process up to a huge nuisance. I cringe at the class privilege of that statement. My eyes no longer dart from cover to cover of bestsellers and glossy magazines on the stands of Relay or Hudson News. I no longer make the traditional purchases of fashion magazines and specialty coffees, because I value the time at the gate and in the air for tedious reading and writing that seems to move more smoothly when I don't have mobile access. I go straight to my gate, plug in, zone out. In fact, I've nearly missed several flights in this state of mind.
At the final call to board (why wait in line with the masses?), I saunter over to the gate/porte - my portal to friends and family on the other side of this vast Canadian land. I anticipate dinner and wine, but I look forward to the interim: to unfastening the tray table, to positioning my laptop on a diagonal to make space for the square napkin hosting a plastic cup of orange juice, to wrapping my neck and lower face in a cotton scarf, and to typing without interruption.
Giorgio Agamben writes on the camp as 'state of exception', where lawlessness is the state of law. This airport, like every one, might be as close as I get to sensing his zone of indistinction. At the airport, the building's windows are closed. Inside, the rules are nonnegotiable, attendants decide your fate if you make expensive mistakes, and a sense of law and lawlessness - represented by milling clusters of diverse citizenships clutching passports and white tickets - provides pressure and pace to the arid climate.
Today my flight got delayed. I was relieved, because I got more time to charge my laptop (outlets on plane seatbacks are notorious for not working, and on a 6 hour flight, this matters) and write this post.
Now I'm tempted to expand on Agamben, but there is just too much in my head.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely time in BC!
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ReplyDeleteHave a fun time in BC!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the zoning out of the check-in process, the waiting until final boarding call (unless I am going only carry-on, in which case getting an overhead spot is important if there is no skycheck), the need for working plugs... but I am impressed at your ability to work. I find myself only able to get about 3 pages into whatever article/document/etc. I am reading, and then fall asleep.... I admire the dedication to work, and appreciate the post.
@Sam - I think Agamben said it all with state of exception, even though it involves mild regurgitation. Love that guy. And thanks :)
ReplyDelete@micah - I feel like I've ruined flying for you. Consolation: I've had a tough time being dedicated to work since that day! The BC vacation has taken over entirely, and if I keep up at this pace of active-leisure, the flight home will be needed for catching up on sleep!