The Native Iowan

“small flat-white”

the girl at the coffee kiosk calls to the expectant crowd of customers. An overweight business man dutifully collects his order and retires to a table.

“… we invite you aboard through boarding gate 78…”

Heavyset older bloke with a younger gal… walking arm in arm. To cozy to be married. Must be a dirty weekend in the making.

Asian gal in 6 inch spiked heels. How can she walk?

Mom with 4 kids. The standard family times 2… two boys, two girls. They look like very nice people.

“small esspresso”

“… final boarding call for flight…”

The departure terminal is relatively empty. I waltzed right through immigration and customs.

Small girl, about 3, pig tail all done up, nice pink backpack. She can’t sit still. Mom is already stressed. Looks like it may be a long flight wherever they are going.

An hour before I board. I am sitting in the centre of the departure lounge area. It’s huge with duty free stores and eateries all around. The day is bright and clear. Great day for bike riding.

But I am heading back to paradise.

“large latte”

A 4 year old boy flies his model airplane past me. Another stressed looking mom herds him in a froward manner.

“… general boarding call for Inchon…”

“… final boarding call for flight EA34 to Auckalnd…”

The girl with the spiked heals has moved closer. High button ladies boots like granny would have wore. With a long heel. Call it style. I can think of no other word.

There is a group of guys, in their 20s, all wearing the same stupid straw cowboy hats. They must have lost a huge bet.

Don’t see anyone from the Solomons. Maybe I am still too early. If you’re from the islands you’re rarely early.

One thing that amazes me is the proliferation of people pushing buttons on some type of communication device. I see an elderly woman and a middle aged guy reading books. One bloke with a magazine. Everyone else (including me) are either into their laptops or pushing buttons on a palm device.

This airport terminal used to be much smaller. When I first flew to Brisbane the international and domestic terminals were on and the same. When they built this facility they installed some very large pieces of art. Mostly hard wood sculptures, some were abstract. Some were playfully futuristic. Now, as the need for space (and the opportunity to make money) pressures increase we find only one of the old art works in place. I bet it will be relegated to a shed soon.

I watch a guy at a pay phone…we is using his mobile to give him a number… It would make a great picture… he is standing in front of the pay phone but has his mobile out… quite telling per our modern world.

So… 40 minutes before we board. I think I’ll wander down to the boarding gate. a few short hours and I’ll be back to the humid and dusty air of Honiara.

I do look froward to it.