Can you guess who the "Others" are?
Some people can appear glamorous while they travel.
Others? No.
Some people get manicures before they travel and have tidy sleek black carry-ons that they wheel along behind them, swinging their fresh scented hair in unison with their energetic steps.
Others of us stumble over our four-year-olds who insist on clinging to our legs even while we beg them not to because we are pushing the stroller and will keep bumping into their ankles or getting tangled up if they will not. just. walk.
Some people exit the plane quickly and with dignity, collecting carry-on luggage efficiently and with almost no effort.
Others of us frantically scoop spilled "My Little Pony's" back into their daughter's shoulder bag from the aisle of the plane while bending over their swollen ankles and accidentally kneeling on an old Indian uncle's foot.
Some people sit and swing their crossed ankles while delicately filling out crossword puzzle books or paging through fashion magazines while waiting out a seven hour layover.
Others of us drool onto the vinyl benches while we try to catch up on all the sleep we didn't get while we were on the plane, because our eight-year-old sons decided that sleep is for wimps and all-night airplane gaming is for cool guys.
Some people enter and exit elevators and sky trains with aplomb and grace.
Others of us cannot help screeching, "You're going to get shut in the door if you don't hurry up and get out!" (or in) to at least one of their children every single time, accompanied by racing heart because of a phobia which originated with a demon elevator in Bangkok that didn't have a sensor and really would shut on an unwary child who took longer than five seconds to exit.
Some people sip lattes and eat small pastries without spilling a crumb.
Others of us like to coat the transfer lounge carpet with rice.
Some people travel light.
Others of us carry four instruments and multiple cameras. We pack all the school books we need for a year and have to repack at the check-in desk because two of the suitcases were over regulation weight. We count to twelve everywhere we go just to make sure all our carry-on luggage is there.
Some people are bored.
Others of us are never, ever bored.
Some people aren't as blessed with traveling companions as we are.
We left on the 2:00 AM flight to Taiwan last night, flew for thirteen hours, and are almost at the end of our seven-hour layover to get on our flight to Bangkok. And though I joke about how disheveled and not sleek we are, I have to say- these kids have been absolutely amazing.
Others? No.
Some people get manicures before they travel and have tidy sleek black carry-ons that they wheel along behind them, swinging their fresh scented hair in unison with their energetic steps.
Others of us stumble over our four-year-olds who insist on clinging to our legs even while we beg them not to because we are pushing the stroller and will keep bumping into their ankles or getting tangled up if they will not. just. walk.
Some people exit the plane quickly and with dignity, collecting carry-on luggage efficiently and with almost no effort.
Others of us frantically scoop spilled "My Little Pony's" back into their daughter's shoulder bag from the aisle of the plane while bending over their swollen ankles and accidentally kneeling on an old Indian uncle's foot.
Some people sit and swing their crossed ankles while delicately filling out crossword puzzle books or paging through fashion magazines while waiting out a seven hour layover.
Others of us drool onto the vinyl benches while we try to catch up on all the sleep we didn't get while we were on the plane, because our eight-year-old sons decided that sleep is for wimps and all-night airplane gaming is for cool guys.
Some people enter and exit elevators and sky trains with aplomb and grace.
Others of us cannot help screeching, "You're going to get shut in the door if you don't hurry up and get out!" (or in) to at least one of their children every single time, accompanied by racing heart because of a phobia which originated with a demon elevator in Bangkok that didn't have a sensor and really would shut on an unwary child who took longer than five seconds to exit.
Some people sip lattes and eat small pastries without spilling a crumb.
Others of us like to coat the transfer lounge carpet with rice.
Some people travel light.
Others of us carry four instruments and multiple cameras. We pack all the school books we need for a year and have to repack at the check-in desk because two of the suitcases were over regulation weight. We count to twelve everywhere we go just to make sure all our carry-on luggage is there.
Some people are bored.
Others of us are never, ever bored.
Some people aren't as blessed with traveling companions as we are.
We left on the 2:00 AM flight to Taiwan last night, flew for thirteen hours, and are almost at the end of our seven-hour layover to get on our flight to Bangkok. And though I joke about how disheveled and not sleek we are, I have to say- these kids have been absolutely amazing.