Comments on: Of Elk and Accidents and Traveling Gracefully

By: Cheap, convenient hotel near Denver International Airport, Comfort Inn

Cheap, convenient hotel near Denver International Airport, Comfort Inn — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:05:26 +0000

[...] brilliant Timbers Hotel, where my family typically stays before we board an early morning flight at Denver International Airport. While the Comfort Inn Airport is not nearly as classy as the Timbers, it’s a valid contender [...]

By: kim/hormone-colored days

kim/hormone-colored days — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:06:05 +0000

What a story. I love the additional detail about the woman who hit it big at the casino helping out. Just the other day I as on a flight from NYC to Chicago on which it seems every passenger brought the largest allowed carry-on bag aboard the plane. Needless to say, they couldn’t fit everyone’s bag in the overhead bins. As the flight attendant did her best to shift bags around to accommodate the maximum numbers of bags, I was shocked at how rudely some of the passengers treated this woman. I suspect that all of the people trying to save money by next checking bags result in a lot of extra work and stress for the flight crew.

By: Wanderluster

Wanderluster — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:31:43 +0000

At first I smirked to myself that you were headed to a Type A mom conference and were concerned that you were running 5 minutes behind. I’m sure you’re very nice but I honestly thought, “figures”. (Honestly, 5 minutes late sucks for me, too, and I’m not a mom. But I’m definitely type A.)

Anyway, the same melting that you must have felt with the man-who-hit-the-elk came over me by the time I finished your post.

When I find myself judging someone because they’ve done something that annoys me, I try to remind myself that I’ve done the same thing once or twice (or more!) in my life.

Thanks for the really really wonderful reminder that we’re all in this together.

By: Tim L.

Tim L. — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:23:06 +0000

Great piece Kara. Funny too that you were going to a “Type A Mom” conference as this is where I have trouble traveling with my type A significant other. When she hits the airport, she is ready for battle. Anyone who dares to take an extra inch anywhere had better look out.

If you give a little, you get a lot—and it’s good Karma too. (I must confess though, I do draw the line at those church groups in matching t-shirts who are butting in line just to stay in one giant sea of fellowship.)

By: Nancy D. Brown

Nancy D. Brown — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:00:18 +0000

Wow! Great post. I, too, need to remember this when I get a little cranky with the folks who arrive “late” to the airport. I try to arrive 2 hours early.

I leave for Kauai on Monday and will remind myself to travel gracefully. Mahalo.

By: Jill Browne

Jill Browne — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:50:21 +0000

Lovely post, Kara. No matter where we are in the airplane lineup, you are quite right, we do get there at the same time!

Regarding civility in airports, in Canada we are having the continuation of an inquiry into the tragic story of a Polish man, Robert Dziekanski, who was killed in the Vancouver airport by police with tasers. It’s a heartbreaking national shame for Canada.

Mr. Dziekanski’s mother waited for hours at the airport for him. She was told he wasn’t in the airport, when in fact he was in the secure zone and apparently didn’t realize he was free to leave. I cannot even write the rest of the details, they make me so sad and at the same time so angry. Nothing that has come out of the inquiry makes sense.

So yes, there are some important reasons to be civil in these seemingly anonymous, meaningless situations.

I was so glad that your fellow passenger made the trip home to his parents.

What a day.