When an airport gate is a different kind of gate: a much needed delight in Austin, Texas

(Greetings from a darkening November. I have several substantial posts in the pipeline concerning the election. I’ve been sharing thoughts across social media and my Patreon. Yet for today, on a weekend, I wanted to share something lighter and perhaps inspiring, while it is still fresh in mind. This is a true story about a delightful thing with no politics. If you’re in the mood, enjoy. Then look to my next posts.)

Sometimes public art surprises and delights me. I needed some of that this week, without knowing it, and maybe you do, too. I will tell you about one such experience I had the other night.

I was walking through the Austin, Texas airport after a conference where I’d presented three times. I was tired, the hour was late, and my flight was delayed, possibly breaking a connection, so I was in a dour mood. After the customary pains of the security line, I was looking for my gate. Stomping along, I scanned the gate signs hung on terminal walls: 16, 15, 14, infinity sign, 13, 12…. hang on, was that an infinity sign?

I did a double take and circled back. Yes it was an infinity sign. Surely that was a cute emblem for an airport restaurant, right? No, the sign was precisely the same size and format as the others, situated right in the…