I’m waiting to board my flight to ICFA, my annual SF lit. conference in Orlando. It’s been really harried the last few days, so if you’re waiting on something from me, I’ll be trying to deal with it once I get to the hotel, or tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.
The gate next to me is boarding a flight to Mexico City, and they’re saying loudly (in English and Spanish) that they are taking photographs of everyone before boarding, that this is their procedure for an international flight. Has it always been the procedure? I don’t think so. When did they start doing that? How much anxiety is it causing to those waiting for their flight?
I thought about signing up for TSA Pre again, which feels like a failure in some sense, to spend money to make my life easier / faster — but also in this particular moment in time, perhaps a means of easing my political stress around traveling while brown. I have a completely clean record, I have voluntarily put my biometrics on file with CLEAR, I have a US Passport, which I’m carrying in addition to my driver’s license, I’m not even traveling internationally, I don’t speak English with a Spanish accent, and still, it is more stressful traveling now than it was six months ago.
I didn’t really have time to sign up today. Maybe next time.
Here is more cheerful travel note — I decided a few years ago that travel would be easier if I streamlined my travel clothing. I decided on creams, white, browns, and the occasional gray. It’s made it MUCH easier to pack for trips — I have go-to clothes now for every weather condition. And having a suitcase and bag that also coordinate makes me feel confident and put together traveling through the airport.
I’ve gotten three random compliments (from an Uber driver, another traveller, and a security guard) since I started dressing this way for travel, so I commend it to you, if you care about that kind of thing. [Editing to add 4! The hotel shuttle driver today.]
And I have to admit, I really love this Anvanda backpack. My only complaint about it is that sometimes I need to travel with more stuff than will comfortably fit in it, so I do want to get a larger backpack for those trips. (For an international flight, I want my laptop, iPad, Kindle, phone, bulky headphones, sketchbook and pencils / watercolor, knitting, and LOTS of snacks, with a beverage, plus a thin cardigan and a thin blanket, which is just a little more than will fit in this backpack.) So I’ll be hunting for that soon.
In the meantime, sources:
- tan suede dress, sleeveless (no pockets, but otherwise, GREAT for travel, very comfortable, looks good with boots or sandals, also comes in sage green) — LOFT, https://www.loft.com/l/p/757185-hpdp.html
- dark brown boots, from DSW, but don’t remember specifics
- jacket with big pockets, camel, also comes in black and gray, LOFT, https://www.loft.com/l/p/754093-hpdp.html
- Anvanda backpack: https://anvanda.com
- it luggage in cream (it does mark up a bit, so if not staying pristine will bother you, maybe choose a dark color), https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VYM26QG — thanks to Nnedi Okorafor for the brand recommendation, I LOVE this bag. Interior divisions, the hard side material is actually lighter than a fabric bag (weird, but true), just works really well for me.
