Before homo sapiens became somewhat civilized, he and she must have been more comfortable as part of a herd, rather like other animals still in the wild. Vestiges of this herd behavior still show up where large numbers of people are on the move.
We joined this migrating group today at Midway Airport where we went to catch the plane (Question: How many people does it take to catch a plane?) for Las Vegas. We pressed together in indiscernible lines to go through security, removing shoes and belt buckles and clunky watches and other accoutrement of civilization.
Various members of the herd exhibited their anxieties with their cellphones. “I just wanted to call you,” shouted the young woman behind me. She wasn’t talking to me; she was talking to someone on her cell. “I’m in the line at security; they’re gonna make me turn off my phone soon. I’ll call you when I get on the other side.” So, basically this was a telephone call to the recipient to tell him or her that she would call in a few minutes. I chalked it up to nervousness.
Earl and I moved through the checkpoint like elephants lumbering toward water. On the other side, we found our gate and — since the airline was Southwest — again joined another group according to the order we would board. This time the man behind us was holding onto his girlfriend with one hand and a wedding dress carefully wrapped in plastic with the name of a bridal salon inscribed across it with the other. Someone else in the herd inquired about this to learn the couple was being married in Las Vegas tonight. Primal approval in the form of smiles and nods followed.
Four hours later Earl and I landed in the Las Vegas airport to be greeted by slot machines at the end of our jetway. Those little arms were waving up and down in greeting. For me, it was a jarring experience, but I imagine I’ll get used to it. We dragged our wheelies through the terminal and found the right shuttle to our hotel, but not without standing in more lines. We lined up for a ticket on the shuttle; we lined up at the hotel to register; we lined up to get an elevator.
And, at last, we are in our room, no longer part of the thundering herd. Instead, we’re planning on changing clothes and finding something to eat. Preferably in a quiet place devoid of the masses.
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