I travel a lot for business, and I don’t mind it a bit. Airports, on a certain level, are familiar and comfortable to me.
I have a routine. Once I get through the necessary annoyance of security, I head to the nearest Hudson News and get a drink, trail mix with M&Ms – I’m not that good – and a USA Today, because the puzzle is challenging yet doable. (As I previously mentioned, I’m not that good.)
I look pretty much like any business traveler, and I am treated as such. Invisible. I move from Point A to Point B, hopefully with as few delays as possible.
And then there are the days, like today, when I travel with my dog Rory.
Rory is also a seasoned traveler. Nearly 11 years old, he has been flying as an in-cabin pet since he was six months old. He has his routine as well.
After I carry him through security, where he is smiled at and repeatedly told “what a good dog you are,” he eagerly gets back into his carrier. We go to the gate, where he enjoys a snack and final drink of water before we board the plane.
During snack time, he is smiled at, talked to, and usually petted depending on the age and interest level of his admirers. This attention often continues inside the plane…and in baggage claim…and even outside the terminal, when he is finally free to take a quick pee and walk.
Rory’s travels are filled with love and attention. I want to get into that business.
