Well, the holidays are over, which means most everyone’s traveling is done, too. The holidays wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t have to board a plane every time you wanted to gather around the ol’ yule log with your family. Over the river and through the woods is an enviable journey compared to dealing with weather-related flight cancellations and missed connections.
Well, this year Christmas was in a new place for the Fryes. Mom and Dad sold the family home of thirty-five years, and moved to a brand new house built on farmland in Delaware. And I chose to fly the weekend of the worst storm they’ve had there in decades. So, three days later I landed in Philadelphia to two feet of snow on the ground. Some storm.
Of course, to kill time in the various airports, I enjoy taking along my sketchbook. Thought I’d share with you just a few of the creatures one encounters in airports these days. Winter passengers are so much more fun to draw with being all bundled up carrying their burdensome Christmas bundles. See for yourself:
When I fly, I love flying out of the Burbank, CA Bob Hope Airport. Bob didn’t build it, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he had originally owned the land on which it was built – you know, after CA was taken away from Mexico I mean. I like this airport because of its convenient three-mile distance from my home. Plus, you never know who you’ll see there. This is Hollywood after all. Good ol’ Bob did not disappoint.
Traveling on my first flight from Burbank to Salt Lake City was actress Nancy Travis who has been in lots of movies like 3 Men and a Baby, Ted Danson’s show Becker, and most recently The Bill Engvall Show. Also on the plane was actress Ellen Crawford who played Nurse Lydia Wright on ER for its entire run. She had such an interesting face, that I tried to draw my version of her in the waiting area. The trick in this is to not get caught doing it. Success!
Now, you would think that after the outbound trip having a three-day delay would insure that my return voyage would be uninterrupted. You would be wrong. Never book a connection through Salt Lake City in the wintertime or you may spend the night there. You can’t blame me, really. My only other option was Denver. At least the people are interesting, and the fresh snow on the Salt Lake mountains is beautiful. Here’s one last traveler that could not evade my pencil.
