There Are Two Types of Airport People

21.  In my email today, from The Atlantic, I read this archived article from May 23, 2019.  There Are Two Types of Airport People:  Some travelers love being late by Amanda Mull. 

This attracted my attention because I am the kind of airport person who loves being early.  If I am traveling with a friend I'll always say to them, "I'll meet you at the airport."  I suppose this is usually the way people typically travel, but my reasons are specific.  I don't want to be late.  Recently, I air-traveled with a friend who was coming from one direction and I from the other.  So it was obvious that we would arrive at the airport separately.  I was my typical early; through security quickly and with plenty of time to stop for breakfast.  I did all of this and then walked to the gate with a coffee in hand to read and wait for my friend.  

Time passed.  There had been a gate change.  I texted my friend about the gate change, more to see where she was than to really let her know about the gate change.  She replied 'thanks.'  Okay, that was good.  More time passed and boarding time was near.  People were starting to stand and form their unofficial waiting lines.  Still no friend.  I was trying to think what I should do.  Texting again did not seem helpful, but there was nothing else to do.  I began my text that boarding was starting.  Then, before pushing send, I looked up the hallway to see my friend strolling, coffee in one hand, bag pulled by the other toward our gate.  She didn't appear to have a care in the world.  I erased my text.  

Clearly, this is a matter of style and comfort.  The reasons some people are always late to the airport are interesting.  Both early arrivers and late arrivers are, apparently, responding to the same thing - airport anxiety.  Technically speaking, my friend was in plenty of time, but I would never, at least not intentionally. 

A note about including this essay from The Atlantic:  My experience is that The Atlantic has much stricter access for non-subscribers.  Hopefully, readers will be able to access from the link.          

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