Learning to do by doing...
Ok, so I've never done a task on my own, I knew I'd be in the airport, and I'm always ready to find love in new places.

So here I am, Please Standby for Love

I took a deep breath and off I went off to have an adventure, my only preparations, a printout from Wikipedia and my usual carry on luggage:

The Drop off:
A farewell pounce from my best friend and then we went on our way to the airport. (I’m not really sure why I didn’t flinch, he really did pounce).


















Check-in:








And I’m on my way, everything goes smoothly and I get through security in 13 minutes.














Getting Ready:

Ahhh! I had to pee since lunch.



More Preparations, it could get messy if art is involved.











Found My Gate:













What to do, hmm:
I decided to empty my bag and see what goodies I had to make something happen.

Make-shift Art Studio in the Airport.
The Supplies:
1 red shoulder bag
1 pair of dance shoes/Keds with tape one the bottom (they go everywhere with me)
1 pair of running shoes
Red nail polish
Tube of green acrylic paint
Bottle of white acrylic paint
Black Pen
2 paint pens
Brush
Bottle of water and cup
Laptop
Paper towels
Cell phone
Camera
Unread printout of the definition of “Standby” from Wikipedia



I wasn’t sure what my first step should be, but I realized I had to find a way to communicate that I was on Standby for Love.

Problem: How to make a sign, without getting any new supplies.
Solution: Paint my bag!














So what am I doing? How do I find love while standingby? Ok, so Wikipedia reminded me that computers standby, “Sleep Mode”.



Sleep Mode
But after sleep mode for a few minutes I realized I wasn’t being true to myself, and how do you find love if you aren’t yourself, or awake. I need to be accessible.

So what do I do when I’m waiting? What am I passionate about? How do I express myself? Dancing!

Feet...Check
Shoes...Check
Favorite music...Check
People to love...uh...where is everyone? Time to find a new gate. Ooh, foreign flights. Sweet.
People to love...Check



4:42pm: Let the Dancing Begin...Time for Charleston...
Nervously I open my laptop, turn on some of my favorite music (Loose Marbles and Carl Sonny Leland). I set up next to the moving walkway so I wouldn’t annoy anyone. Shoes on. Deep breath, hear the rhythm, and peel away the fear.

But...
There was a wall (audience v. crazy girl dancing in airport)
How to break the wall talk to a stranger who clearly wants to know what I was doing.

Me: Hey could you record me dancing?
Russian Tiler from Sacramento Going to Italy with a Blue Suitcase (RTSGIBS): Uh, pause, sure.
Me: Thanks, here’s what you do.



Me: (Out of breath and blushing) Thank you for your help!
RTSGIBS: What is this for?
Me: A social art project, “Standby for Love”.
RTSGIBS: Oh, what kind of dancing is that?
Me: Swing, Charleston.
RTSGIBS: I used to dance ballet. I would love to learn your dancing.
Me: Blah Blah Blah, I love dancing, Blah, Blah
RTSGIBS: Do you have a boyfriend?
Me: Giggle (he hasn’t even asked me my name yet), no, no boyfriend.
RTSGIBS: How long has it been since you have had a boyfriend?
Me: A long time, a very long time. I introduce myself.

He introduces himself, gives me his number, and tells me to come visit and stay at his place in Sacramento. (I have his number, which I don’t intend on calling, I wish I could have recorded the creepiness, maybe its just the forwardness that I may have brought upon myself by dancing in an unexpected place).

And away goes the not so tactful Russian Tiler from Sacramento Going to Italy with a Blue Suitcase.



I go back to my gate at this point because there are finally more people. I set up my second stage and at this point I am ready to just dance and make people smile.



Apparently it worked because a very nice middle-age man comes up to me and tells me there is a group of people that he is sitting with and they were trying to figure out what I was doing. They were having a bet, they were thinking I was either recording myself or I was people watching. And I said yes, both. I described to him what SF0 is and asked him if he could film me.



Later on the plane I overheard him talking about what I was doing with excitement, and a huge smile on his face:)

Standby For Love???











I CAN'T STANDBY!







Notes from Fox Glove:

What does Standby for Love mean to me? Still not sure yet. Just because I was on standby doesn’t mean that I got a ticket for love (Ick, cheese, sorry about the last part).

Anyone who knows me, knows that standingby is hard for me to do. I can’t just wait around and do nothing. I want to touch lives and be touched by other peoples lives. It is hard to sit still let it happen organically.

Maybe I should have given free dance lessons, instead of dancing alone. Its hard to break down the walls solitude that we all build. I figured that Charleston would be silly enough that it might make it easier to have conversations.

On the plane I was able to take time to reflect.
In the air between my homes, Colorado and Chicago, each unique, and wonderful...

Maybe this was my time to standby and recognize the love and compassion that exists in my life.

I feel that this task isn’t finished, and may never be truly finished. I’ve been carrying my bag with me every time I leave the house. A weight, a reminder of the love that exists now and potential love in the future.


Still on standby for love.