Layover 

It’s become a sense of normalcy 

The air travel thing

From my perch, I try not to take it for granted 

Five hour layover today, we pass these moments in Taipei.

I initiate the hijinx by doing my goofy walk behind the small cart housing our carry-on bags. I’m not sure if this is one that will balance my weight, so I stand on the back and scoot, testing for balance.

Yeh, that works

The airport is long, wide, and clean. Shops everywhere, people stagnant, people on the move.

There is so much to see

And hear. Full of announcements. Generally Chinese but dotted Japanese, Korean, English here and there.

Three chimes, ascending, indicates that there’s news on gate changes, final boarding, announcements, and passengers who need to hustle

Elephant is well familiar with these halls, echoes, routines. And the airport itself is rich with options to whittle the hours.

We pause at the bookstore, scan the selection for a good English option, and browse the many magazines in different languages.

Since it’s Taipei, noodle soup is, of course, on the menu.

A washroom, roughly every 85m. I’m not sure if this by design is economical, or pencils out, but it’s decadent. Immaculate toilets, heated seats Japanese style, bidet, dryer, and all.

I’ve grown used to the luxury when I do my business.

It’s the little things.

But, of all this airport’s trappings, it’s the cart that gets the most enjoyment.

We try a couple times to scoot along, gripping the ebony handrail of the moving sidewalk. It powers us. And the cart goes astray, wiggling left and right. But that only fuels his enjoyment.

He pushes the cart off the rail and does a gentle spin coming right towards me.

360 baby woooooooo

I crack up

I’m gonna go one more time

He loops back to the start of the moving sidewalk, scootering his way along.

It’s not a crowded airport, there’s plenty of space, and we’re bothering no one.

Just a fun way to pass the time.

Well, maybe not no one

It’s his third time looping back, gaining speed, and spinning off when he almost-but-not-quite bumps a group of three huddled up and planning their next move.

They are unfazed, barely noticing the looping, cascading cart-turned-scooter

but we, suddenly, are no longer unnoticed.

Excuse me

We hear

Excuse me

You need to stop

That is not a toy

And me, being the responsible father, chastise elephant for being irresponsible.

You need to stop, R, come on.

But the chastising is tempered with a gentle test of his hair and a quiet chuckle.

And once we get around the corner, out of sight from this diligent employee, we share a giggle and fist bump.

We are cracking up.

And we know and can appreciate that she’s just doing her job

But as far as her assertion that the cart is not a toy,

we beg to differ.

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