For the first time,

I was the ugly friend. And it hurt. It was rude and blatant and WOW do I still feel bad about it, nine hours later.

Also for the first time, I went to an aeroport without getting on or off an aeroplane. It's such a weird feeling to be in that place but have NO pressure on you. I definitely felt like a nobody. I wasn't in the system. No one was expecting me to pick something up or be somewhere. I was free to move about, to come and go as I pleased (in certain areas, of course) and I only had one bag. I didn't need i.d., I didn't have any magical papers I couldn't lose, on pain of death...it was great. My and my one little backpack and one little friend. Cool beans.