Member-only story

The Ultimate Challenge of Airport Sobriety

Saved by an intercom page

Michele Maize
4 min readFeb 27, 2022
Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash

Vacations were always the height of my drinking. If I was flying alone, I was giddy because I could drink as much as I wanted.

Two before the flight, two on the flight and race by a bar on the way out the door.

Two of my brothers live in Reno and I would travel there alone often. I wonder if they always thought it was weird that they’d pick me up, trashed.

I’d get to the airport early so that I could get a few drinks in before the flight. “I’m nervous”, I would say. Rolling my eyes as I type, I never was nervous! What a good excuse though.

Tipsy, I would board the plane and wait for my next drink.

The flight attendant couldn’t get to my seat fast enough. I always tried to order two at once. Most of the time that didn’t work. My mind was always fixated on this, never enjoying a book or a movie, but waiting for that next drink.

Wherever I was going, if I was alone, I was always intoxicated when I reached my destination.

Today, I show up at the airport sober, with no intention of drinking. The past week I had an amazing time exploring Arizona with my parents. They just moved there and I came out for a visit, something I wouldn’t have done if I was…

--

--

Michele Maize
Michele Maize

Written by Michele Maize

Sober Traveler | Wannabe Vegan | Yoga Addict. Dog-loving extrovert turned introvert. Owner of "The Maze". Editor at Black Bear and Globetrotters.

Responses (8)