Recombobulation Area

Milwaukee International Airport (MKE) has lots of things most other airports don’t have — cheeseheads for sale, one of the best used bookstores around, ping-pong tables, an Alterra coffeeshop, lots of friendly Midwesterners, and most notably, a “Recombobulation Area.”

Marked by a sign that separates the security lanes from the gates, this area is designated to give travelers time and space to recombobulate, or “gather one’s thoughts or composure,” according to Urban Dictionary.  It’s space for people like me to locate my children…and their shoes…and the iPad…and the trail of books we most likely dropped between the body scanner and the tranquil benches designed to accommodate all of the recombobulators.

I LOVE THIS.  We all need time and space to recombobulate after the sprints we often encounter in daily life, and the Milwaukee Airport is one of the few places that acknowledges it…in the most public of ways.  So next time you’re feeling frenzied or harried or racing through your day, consider taking a minute or two to recombobulate…to settle your thoughts and your body…and get ready for the next leg of your daily or life journey.  Make MKE proud.