"That I Would Be Good" - Alanis Morissette

I have made many attempts to write, whether it be a short story, a novel, poems, songs, plays, or memoirs - none have been too successful. My first attempt at a memoir was centered on "travel." I grew up overseas, been in twenty something countries, figured I had the travel thing down, so why not write about it. I have seen places most only dream about. I have met people and friends that will last a lifetime. Seen the poorest people harboring the most faith, hope, patience, and trust - people with nothing on the outside, carrying heaven on the inside. So here is an excerpt from one of the memoirs (and yes, I wrote down the song I was listening to when I wrote it).

*The picture was taken from the Western Ghats in South India (My home).

My first official blog post. All you travelers will perhaps appreciate it, and, those who have never traveled, write this down.

There are not too many things on this earth more monotonous than a long layover. There you are surrounded by people you do not know waiting for your last taste of greasy American fast food. You try to drift off to sleep but the constant rustling crowds and the unsettling stench of European cigarettes are keeping you from your peace of mind. Just as your eyes drift into the back of your head you hear the rattling of rolling wheels along a tiled floor and even though you’ve heard it time and again you still open your eyes to see. You’ve been here before, maybe a hundred times or more and still it feels like your first time: The same signs, long lines, weary travelers, and duty-free.

You watch people.

People watching is the only pastime that prevents you from walking the fine line between boredom and insanity. There in the corner is the widow staring out the window wondering why she was left to withstand the storm. You see her slowly lift her fingers to her mouth as if holding back everything she ever wanted to say. Her eyes, tired and weary, are struggling between tears and sleep. She must only be sixty years old, but on a day like today she looks no less than eighty. You glance over to your right and see young adventurers huddled around a small table laughing and playing cards. Each one with dreams of experiencing all life has to offer. Their adventures lay before them and their worries behind. You find it hard to see how you fit into all this. Where is your place in this busy world? There seated just to your left is the couple that have already been traveling for what seems like days. She lay there dreaming in his lap while he tries aimlessly to keep his head up and eyes open. Their make shift bed made of thrown together chairs gathered from all parts of airport is a safe haven that separates them from the rest.

You watch people.

Every now and then you catch an unsuspected person doing the same thing when you lock eyes. There you are for a split second thinking and feeling the exact thoughts of a complete stranger. A connection is made and you both quickly look away as if ashamed to think anything like that could ever happen. What scares you about other people? What scares any of us? Is it not knowing who they are or where they have been? You have always been scared of what you didn’t know and that’s just human nature. The constant bantering coming from the overhead speakers occurs just enough to break your concentration.

You watch people.

The song reminded me of all the people you see when you travel, the different lives, paths that everyone is on. I pray that everytime I look at someone, I will see their "good."