The airport. A great place for germs, standing around, and poorly brewed coffee. I’m currently at RDU, enjoying a trifecta of things I love: a free breakfast, a free plane voucher, and abundant people watching. Most people don’t rejoice over airport layovers. I am that exception. Now don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy being on time and despise aimless waiting around. But I also enjoy stealing moments that aren’t necessarily mine. It all started when I discovered my love of analyzing?observing?creepily watching? the reactions of people at baggage claim. There is something very magical and endearing about the reunion of families, friends, lovers you name it. I’m sure my face is on the security watch list at Hartsfield Jackson Airport from the numerous times I spent lingering in the baggage terminal just watching folks during trips in and out of Atlanta. I’d like to attribute the habit to my anthropological interest in the behavior of man. I started to intentionally arrive at the airport early and quickly embraced any bit of layover that came my way. As if these layovers weren’t rewarding enough – now they are really starting to pay off.

My first highly successful layover occurred last February. Heading up to NYC for a girls weekend, I decided to purposely schedule the longest layover possible in Atlanta. With approximately four hours between my arrival from Austin, TX to my departure to LaGuardia, I had the perfect amount of time to revisit one of my favorite haunts for breakfast, Highland Bakery. With three friends gracious enough to be on stand by for me, I enjoyed the shrimp and grits and familiar faces. They say multi-tasking can be detrimental to building relationships – in my case, it proved beneficial. With just enough time for one coffee refill, I was whisked back to Hartsfield Jackson, only to continue my good fortune. My New York City bound flight was the only one that departed due to severe winter weather up north. With only a slight delay, I made it to NYC to spend a glorious weekend with my best friends.

The second most successful airport layover I am currently in the middle of enjoying. With an overbooked flight back to Texas, I graciously gave up my seat in exchange for a ticket voucher and a free breakfast coupon. Thank you American Airlines, for paying me $100 bucks an hour to wait for the next flight to Dallas. I joked with pops on the phone that this may be the pinnacle of my career – I’m making the most per hour I’ll probably ever make. Maybe if this blog takes off, I can claim this as my initial hourly wage. Hey, good things tend to happen to me in airports. Parked at a cafe near my gate, I’m rocking out to one of my favorite local bands, Roman Candle, hoping the folks at RDU are having just as much fun watching me as I am them. While my performance in no way compares to Skip Matheny’s, I’d like to think he’d be proud.

As the sun continues to rise over the Raleigh Durham airport melting the blanket of snow that gave us North Carolinians a rare White Christmas, I can’t help but be thankful for good fortune that continues to come my way. While not every airport layover will be rewarded with free travel, a bagel, and a beautiful view of the sunrise, I’m hoarding these good moments for the times that aren’t so amazing. In times where negativity spreads like cancer (like holiday travel disrupted by the elements), I’m using my own remedy of positivity to ward off such an infection. – it’s my goal for 2011 and subsequently, I hope to remain a chronic positive thinker.  I’m considering myself the new drug dealer of positive thinking. Just try it…everyone should do it. 

Last night concluded March Madness 2010 and we were reminded of two very important things. 1) Why we love college basketball and 2) Why we hate Dook. The Butler under Bulldogs put up an impressive fight over the Duke Blue Devils leaving fans of both teams on the edge of the seat up until the final buzzer. Unlike last year’s game where a usual North Carolina Tar Heel team swiftly and effortlessly won their way to the 2009 NCAA Championship Title, college basketball fans everywhere had the chance to yell and cheer well after regulation. As Hayward’s final hail mary basket replayed over and over, we knew the outcome would stay the same but somehow it became satisfying to know that Duke, a team basically fated to win this year, almost didn’t.

Buter proved that a 5th seed team can dance with big bad Duke, a team known for being consistently strong and largely hated. As a native North Carolinian and Tar Heel Alumna, I picked my shade of blue as an ankle biter and have grown up with two cardinal rules: College basketball is life. And we never pull for Duke (spelled Dook). Last night, I found myself conflicted: I wanted to be supportive of the ACC. Since my beloved Tar Heels ended their season with a “Still Under Construction” sign denoting a rebuilding year, its great for our conference to have as many National Championships as we can get. But when it comes to pulling for Dook…I just can’t do it. 

Many of my close friends who pull for Dook (not all my friends are perfect) found themselves asking (specifically) UNC fans, why do you hate Duke? Why won’t you pull for us? The answer is simple: Because you won’t pull for us. Given the reverse situation, 99% of Duke fans would be spouting the same trash talk. And that’s why we hate Dook. Because like their team, their fans are consistently ridiculous, and generally goofy. As ESPN stated on their homepage today there’s no denying Duke. Well, they’re right. Duke had an extremely strong season and with a starting line up stacked with incredible seniors, 2010 was their year to take the title. But we also can’t deny that we hate Dook. From the attitude, to Coach K’s smugness, to the overabundance of awkward white guys, to the annoyance of a Cameron Crazie, it’s too much. 

As a former student, I can tell you that our Dook contempt stays on the court. As much as our rhetoric may become heated and at times uncomfortable, the two schools work together to promote an enriched learning experience for it’s students and to strengthen the Chapel Hill - Durham communities. For that, I can accept the fact that Duke won, but like a large majority of college basketball fans who share my dislike of Dook, I don’t have to be happy about it. 

Butler, thank you for making the Dook win a little less sweet with such an amazing game. 

Dook, we’ll see you in the final in another 9 years.

A dear friend of mine is currently in Liberia, fully exploring the culture and connecting with a place he is unfamiliar. From following his exciting blog, I am more than happy to read and feel the difference he is making within himself and with others he meets along his journey. Whenever we step outside our comfort zones, we truly find what we are capable of thinking, feeling, and doing. This is to you Kelly…a hug from across the Atlantic encouraging the work you are doing and hope you find whatever it is you weren’t looking for. These types of experiences often leave us with a feeling and desire we never thought or knew we could have. Warmest wishes from yours truly.

Here goes the first attempt at blogging - a practice I’ve tried to avoid but have realized embracing technology is much easier than repelling it. So here we go.

I’ve just seen the film “Remember Me” - the dramatic love story between two New York City early twenty-somethings both plagued by childhood tragedy and strained parental relationships.  I find it odd that my first drive to blog would come after viewing this movie but the embedded theme and after effect of the movie compels one (or at least this one) to stop waiting and just do. Admittedly, this was not a feature I planned to shell $9.75 to see but 1) a trusted friend recommended it and 2) Robert Pattinson is a guilty pleasure. I feel comfortable saying this movie provided a lot of…something. I’m still processing what this “something” is - the acting? Mediocre to good at times. The love story? Full of holes - pass. The relationships? Yeah ok. The unfolding of the many familial relationships provided an far more interesting story than Edward Cullen making out with a blonde instead of a brunette. Regardless, by the end of the film, you’re stuck with a profound feeling that doesn’t really hit you until you’ve digested your popcorn and are sitting in bed deciding to write a blog about your experience.

Without giving away the somewhat obvious ending (which I ignored all the “subtle” clues), “Remember Me” is a film I will not soon forget. This B-/C grade film slaps you with a heavy dose of reality and opens an emotional can of worms you’ve shoved in the back of your pantry. We are reminded that everyone is human. We all have faults. We all act with raw emotion to protect and hurt those we love most. And eventually we leave this world. 

I’m smirking over the fact that “Remember Me” has pushed me into the blogging world. But I’m inspired to share my thoughts with you and create another level of human connection and interaction. I hope to use this space to engage with others, engage with myself, and live out my new mantra:

See the good. Feel the good. Be the good. 

Here’s to a beautiful adventure.

Cheers,

LFox