Insights and Eavesdroppings

My trip to New Jersey was an uneventful yet extremely interesting one. Hubband was able to get a couple of hours free from the restaurant and take me to the airport, where we had dinner together before he had to head back to work. While grabbing our dinner, I overheard (I was in the middle of it all at the table where we were eating, and poor Hubband actually had to dodge the attacking woman at one point while he waited for our order) a fight between two middle-aged women. One of them, apparently, had decided that the other one had "gotten her own way" for the entire vacation and that it had been "ruined" as a result. She stomped around the restaurant, insulting her one-time friend (who seemed very bewildered), embarrassing her husband (who tried to smooth things over with their friends and calm her down), and finally ended by announcing at the top of her lungs that she "wouldn't do it anymore" and didn't "want to see your face anymore". She even went so far as to say "Im done with you", while drawing the lapels of her "Fort _____, Wyoming" jean jacket snugly around her neck. Her husband looked even more sheepish and tried to talk to her, sending deprecating glances to everyone in the restaurant, but she would have none of it, slamming the items around in her carry-on. By this time, her friend and the friend's husband had gathered their own belongings and departed to wait for their flight. We were relieved when the husband finally shooed her out of the area.

Hubband and I finished our own meal, said our goodbyes, did a little discreet snuzzling in farewell and I went through security (in front of a girl who carried on at least 5 loud conversations on her cell phone while also talking to her traveling companion... all of the above were regarding the romantic lives of "Christine" "Stu" and I think "Holly"... apparently Christine and Stu had dated, but he was now dating Holly, who was Christine's friend... well, you get the idea -- also behind a woman who was obviously ready for own child, talking incessantly to the baby of the girl in line behind her and flashing her engagement ring excitedly while proclaiming that by "March" she would be married! She was 38! She wanted babies! The whole line knew about it!>grin<).

After collecting a bottle of water and heaving a couple of sighs over the absence of Hubband (its amazing how quickly we have readjusted to having each other everywhere... neither of us slept well last night, either...the first time we've slept apart in months), I wandered to my gate and found... the 2 middle aged ladies again. This time, the hurt was snuffling quietly into a napkin while her husband patted her leg and looked helpless. The Noisy and Immature one (good grief, at her age she should have learned either to speak up about her own wishes or at least accept the choice of a group with some small measure of GRACE) was still slamming around the items in her handbag, complaining to her long-suffering husband, and generally giving off an air of Injured Party that was completely unbelievable. I have to say, perhaps the other friend really did take charge, but I still was thouroughly disgusted by the Immature one's behaviour and attitude.

After all that, our flight arrived in Newark about 50 minutes early, but surprisingly found a gate immediately. I collected my suitcase and waded through the hawkers at the entrance until I reached the taxi stand. One man tried to convince me I was going to pay 65 dollars in the cab to reach my destination and he'd take me in his "nicer" car for the same price!!! Knowing that from LGA and JFK those "great rates" are lies for the unsuspecting tourist, I declined and got a cab (total: $54). Of course, my cabbie promptly got lost in the wilds of New Jersey and it took over an hour to get to my hotel.

Now, after a mostly sleepless night (no hubband, strange bed, strange noises...), Im editing pediatrics and reflecting on strange it has been to come "home" from "home" and to be staying in a hotel while Im here....