Don't Wake Me Up: Flying Tired (And Other Things to Avoid in Airports)

Today's the day!

I've been waiting for this for years, and now that it's here my only thought is... Why on earth was I woken up at six AM? According to my mother, this way we'll be more tired and sleeping on the plane will be easier. However, I then proceeded to be only slightly more animated than your average zombie for the first two and a half hours or so - in fact, I'm really only waking up just now. [Hence the song of the day, Don't Wake Me Up by Chris Brown.] I wish I could sleep in more, but my sleep schedule's going to be so messed up this week that at this point I'll just do what I'm told.

We have a few more hours before we head to the airport, but we have plenty to do - for some reason, my family tends to associate "we're leaving" with "time to clean the house," so I'm busying myself in this to avoid dealing with my bedroom. My iPod is updated, my Kindle is charged, my camera is armed and dangerous... I'm ready to go.

Now, in the last two years I've done more flying than I'd care to admit, mostly for college-related visits. It's nice to be flying somewhere because I'm actually going on vacation, but if there's one thing I don't like (and of course have been forced into today), it's flying tired. Not so much the actual flying, but the getting through security, getting whatever edible food I can grab, and boarding without losing any belongings (or passports, or boarding passes) in the process. In addition, it's a lot harder to regulate your own vocabulary when you're tired, and one badly placed "that's so bomb" can quickly land you in TSA headquarters. [Not that I'd use anything like that - not my preferred vocabulary - but you get the point.] Airports can be really entertaining when you're watching for people who don't know what they're doing, but it can also feel dangerous if one of the aforementioned people gets on your plane. It's important to be aware of your surroundings on and off the tarmac.

My parents have done a ton of flying in their lives, so I generally end up learning at least one important or useful piece of advice when I'm flying. During the standard flight attendant safety instructions, Dad quizzes me and/or my brother on how many rows are between us and the nearest exit to the front and rear of us. My mom's taught me a really useful trick for weaving through opposing airport foot traffic. I've gotten pretty efficient about going through security, and I know that flight attendants need verbal confirmation that the people in the exit rows feel capable of carrying out the responsibilities that go along with their seats. I've been to eighteen states in under eighteen years (and technically will be claiming my nineteenth when we fly through JFK on the way home). And, like any other kid would say, the most fun part of any airport is the inter-terminal train, if there's one present.

Well, it's time to do some final checks. Adventure is calling my name (or maybe that's just my brother). At any rate, I'll post again soon. Until then, stay awake!
Love you all,
Megan