No "People" magazine...I can't fly!

Today I flew out of Stockton Metropolitan Airport for an adventure in Arizona.  And I always follow the rules, so when my ticket said to be at the airport two hours before my takeoff at 10AM, I was there!!  Only to wait another three hours to leave.  So I had a lot of time for reflection and observation.

The Stockton Airport can only be described as quaint, small, and a foreshadowing of what future air travel might look like as fuel gets more expensive and flights are out of reach for us "middle classers".  There is only one airline that leaves and arrives in Stockton.  For me I leave for Arizona and the next flght back from Arizona is Friday.   I am very impressed with the multitasking of the staff.  The person who checked us in was also the person to helped wave the planes in as they land, brought ice to the plane during flights, and helped load baggage on the baggage cart!!  WHEW!! 

All in all it was a very sad looking place, a reminder of the past, because other counters were closed and dark. (I know that other airlines did fly into Stockton but went bankrupt) and you only went through the security if your flight was next.  They have one baggage carousel.  There was a cafe that was adequate.  But the true telling of this airport is that when you go into the gift store expecting to get magazines for your flight there were none, not even the latest "people" magazine!!!  Not having the "People" magazine as I boarded the flight, was a first.  But so was sitting on an airplane, waiting to taxi, and knowing that no other planes were landing or taking off!
Okay, there was the cropduster.

Pray for small communities like Stockton that are struggling to make it.