Poor Scarlett

I wrote a few weeks ago about a comically depressing as well as surreal travel experience. Since then I've tried to observe as much as possible in travel environments, with a focus on comically depressing things and occurrences. 

This is what I do for fun, people.

The picture above is a massive installation in the Southwest concourse of the Tampa airport. Gorgeous, isn't it? I think so.

I imagine most folks never really do more than glance at it, in fact, I've seen it several times in the past and never really paid attention, but this past weekend the security line was moving fairly slowly, so I was able to gaze at it for a moment. At first glance it is a very pretty picture, full of happy colors and sunshine, and air travel (yay!), but as I stared at it I noticed that despite being beautiful, it is also the most depressing thing you could possibly hang in an airport.

There is a woman, I've named her Scarlett for dramatic effect, standing alone while waiting to board, wiping a tear from her eye. Someone has died, and she is flying home for the funeral.

In front of Scarlett are Harland and Betty Sue, these names are not for dramatic effect, I've just always wanted to name a fictional couple Harland and Betty Sue. Harland is holding on to Betty tight. She has chosen her career opportunity in Paris over her short lived relationship with Harland despite his marriage proposal and promise to take care of her on his limited income. She promises she'll be back, but Harland knows better.

In the back of the line sits Sam. Sam, real name Percy McCoy, is a private eye on the trail of a high profile art thief, Matthew Batten, who he hasn't yet noticed is standing only a few feet away disguised as a luggage handler. Matthew feels as if he's being watched and has just turned around to see Sam, who will notice him in a few seconds. It's about to get ugly.

Again, the painting is great, but I'd rather see a painting of a family of meerkats being mauled by a lion than be subjected to sad goodbyes and impending gunfights. I have a feeling Scarlett is a little too close to the action and will get caught in the cross fire.

The pilot, oblivious to the impending action is trying to decide which of these poor, vulnerable women he will invite up to the cockpit for a drink. 

Someone had to choose this painting, and that someone is demented. They even posted it above the security line, so you only see it after you've said goodbye to your own loved one's, cried your tears, gotten on a tram to your concourse, and joined a line of strangers. It waits until you've just recovered from your initial travel blues and then BAM! Depressing painting.

If you are traveling while reading this, I'm sorry, but I hope you've enjoyed it.