And earlier, at the viewing of a family member, some random person (I didn't recognize her as family) whipped out her ringing cell phone RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CASKET and talked to someone. I mean, really!!?? The very definition of gauche. Despite receiving several doses of stinkeye from me, she seemed not to get the message. I'm not surprised.

Why are so many people oblivious to their surroundings? Or do they just not care? Being in airports today I have experienced several versions of oxen-like travelers just blocking the moving walkways with their parked arses. What part of "walk on the left/stand on the right" is so difficult?

My other favorite is the dazed traveler- standing precisely in the middle of the busiest walkways, brows furrowed in confusion, bags splayed about so as to divert the natural flow of traffic as much as possible. First time in the airport, sweetie? Probably not.

I'm starting to envision oblivious travelers as somewhat akin to the big red tractors in the animated movie "Cars". Dumb, large, mooing, slow-moving at best, tipping over occasionally to block other travelers from making their connections...