LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

TIME OUT. Have you ever thought that "time out" should refer more to everyday life than just a phrase used to justify a sports move? I've been working, or rather overworking,
on trying to fit everything into a calendar that just won't stretch no matter how hard I try. Obviously, traveling for business is just not time effective and certainly does not allow for "time out." Having recently been caught in the "canceled/delayed flights" phenomenon, I've realized there's a bigger force up there just pushing our buttons. First, try to juggle your carry-on, that itty-bitty bag that takes a scientist to pack, for which everything is chosen by its ability to be worn several ways - a sweater straight on for the conservative look, upside down for an evening shawl or tied at the hip for casual style. Then start layering: the skirt over the rolled-up skinny pants that you wore the day before and are now bagged out. Or the jacket that you had to pack because it was some label that "just everyone would recognize," but God is it bulky. And, of course, the shoes - at least three pairs with boots that you'll wear on the flight, even if it's 80 degrees. And don't even try to pack color - it's black, black, black, because it goes with everything, anywhere, maybe. But you simply must carry on because lately nothing is safe, not even the three-ounce allowance of creams, which can hardly be expected to moisturize your whole body for that eight-hour-or-more layover. And with all this body cramping in lines for ticket changing; security check-in (totally demoralizing) and Starbucks (the only thing worth waiting for), the sorriest sight of all is when you're left waiting on the tarmac for some three hours (if you're lucky) and then you deplane to a massive sleep in.
What is this? Are we talking third world-habits right in our paradise homeland, Florida? Everyone is sleeping on the floor at the airports these days. (This could actually be a good start-up business - rent or sell disposable roll-up sleeping beds). At
any rate, what's happened to quality travel? First class is now business class, business
class is for baby buggies and standard class is a cattle call without class. Germs are flying around so fast in planes these days, a Lear would be envious. Masking is not an option - only people in Asia are that considerate. Everyone is dressed in sleepovers and they're doing just that - sleeping over you and infringing on your space. The whole scene is one from a bad reality show. I say "time out." Think twice before you book that flight. Midweek is better than weekend, unless of course there's a blizzard, and then all bets are off. Select first flight rather than any other time and take off prepared to get manhandled, bumped and dumped on, which all boils down to: if you really want to maintain some class, black works!

Esther Q. Jackson
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief