Deductive Reasoning and the Art of Intrigue

Airports heighten intrigue, or commonly known as people watching. 

From people watching you can figuring out a glimpse of someone’s story. A lady with a stroller…she probably has kids. A man wearing a coat on a flight to California. He probably came from somewhere cold. Two really tall men in baggy jeans and hoodies who manage to have priority check in/ seating...most likely athletes. Or drug dealers. This begins the process of deductive reasoning.

Often times I wonder what people gather from me. The other day at the airport I’m sure judgment passed through the onlookers eyes. Wavy hair and a flowy dress with luggage that weighed more than half of me. I can only imagine. Today, I have the same amount of luggage but I have high heel boots, skinny jeans, a blazer and belt over a scarf. Two looks, one person—there could be some deceit involved in deductive reasoning. That is another story for another time.

Airports heighten intrigue… let’s start from the beginning.

A man sits in front if a girl. He has an ipod and a book; while she sips a chai and is on her laptop. They lock eyes. The intrigue has begun. Small glances here and there become longer looks. But never a smile or an acknowledgment of each other's inquisitive eyes. He gets up. “Maybe he has a different flight,” she thinks. Then more deductive reasoning—he has a yoga mat. Maybe a sleep mat, maybe he meditates, who really knows. The possibilities really are endless. She loses his story before it could begin. That is typically how airport intrigue is.

B 1-60 is boarding. I am B52. I walk to my gate. I see him. He sees me. He lingers. Then walks away. Not far, I find he is boarding C. But I also find another clue, he has a violin, the violin leads to more deductive reasoning. He glances at me. I sense his intrigue and I’m okay with it. As I’m boarding the plane I sense him watching me. As I am finding a seat on the plane, I notice that I am looking for seats with two spots...just to play the intrigue a while more. I walk farther and farther. My plan may be failing. Oh, finally two seats in the very back. I see him at the front of the plane, walking. He looks with discontentment and picks a seat toward the middle of the plan. As he is taking his seat he takes one last look back—we lock eyes. He turns around and takes his seat.