First of all, howdy and hello! It’s been a while, not because I am lacking trips but because I am lacking enthusiasm to talk to people. Just kidding but actually…not. Early morning flights, late night events and 3 hour time changes lead me, as of late, to choose a quick snooze over a chat. But have no fear, this most recent trip to Jacksonville lent me some options to share just what I love about flying – you never know what you are going to run into….
Strangers are weird. Yes that is a generalization and I am sure people think I am weird. Correction, I KNOW people think I am weird, but they aren’t the ones writing this blog so you get my unsolicited opinion about them instead.
I know the point of being a stranger is that you don’t have to worry a ton about what anyone thinks because they will never see you again but at the same time, I think there are some basic courtesies we should respect to not be too weird in our ability to share with others. For example, the women today in a completely full bathroom who wouldn’t hang up the phone while she peed because she was running through her Christmas list and debating the benefits of a new phone versus an Apple watch with whoever was so lucky to be keeping her company on the phone in the stall.
I also find it odd not just what people will say in front of other people, but more so TO other people they have never met with no context into their life, upbringing or beliefs.
As I was standing in line to board a flight in Houston, I had the pleasure to be standing in the one place no one can remember how to count in order from 1-60, the alphabet order of A,B,C or listen to any directions overhead – the Southwest boarding line. I was standing at the front of the line close to the where the pre-boards were gathered and the ticket counter. Making casual small talk, a women next to me provided the longest “short version” of her life story and told me she was flying to Florida to see her sister.
I don’t know if she had enjoyed a pre-flight cocktail or literally just did not give a shit who could hear her but she wanted to make sure that everyone within ear shot of her nasal megaphone-volume voice knew that there were just too many people getting pre-boarded. Not being one to ruffle feathers or really care why anyone is getting on the plane early, I said “yah there are a lot on this flight” hoping that would appease her enough so we could continue on with inane chit chat about the weather until it was socially acceptable to put on my noise cancelling headphones. I quickly decided she was playing a game of “How Uncomfortable Can I Make These Strangers In Line” and not only was she winning, she would soon become VIP.
Compassionate Connie, apparently not one to pick up on social cues, just could not leave this pre-board non-issue/issue at bay, so she throws out this gem: “I think all physically disabled people should HAVE TO PROVE their disability before they can board”. CONNNIIIIIEEEE, what?! A. I am concerned this is a genuine thought that you have but B. You said it! Out loud! In an airport! Full of people you do not know and will not have your back when that roller gang of pre-board wheelchairs come and TAKE YOU OUT.
Literally as I type this I cringe. I am pretty bad at hiding emotions, especially when I am completely dumbfounded and at a loss for words and mostly, completely disgusted with whatever was just said. I can usually fake a smile or a polite giggle – but I am fairly certain that I threw courtesy to the wind and pulled out my phone in an effort to completely shut down any potential continued conversation. But with Connie, getting down to the boarding buzzer, wanting to get in that last minute Hail Mary in the midst of our stagnate conversation, she throws out loudly “I also don’t consider getting old a disability”. Ooookkkkkkay Connie, you win, you win it all. And although I found the comments off color and ridiculous, it wasn’t so much that, it was her lack of any consideration to not only the pre-boarders but to people around us. Who made you queen of the boarding line?? Thankfully, something made her launch into a story about her husbands pill addiction and her recent back surgery so although still not my desired conversation topics, it was much better than blatant discrimination so I take it as a victory.
Despite my interaction with Compassionate Connie, my faith in strangers was revived. On my flight from Jacksonville to Dallas, I stood behind a women in line who had a Nespresso canvas tote bag. I remember because I just recently found out what a total nightmare a Nespresso machine is and was still reeling in its complication. Did you know there are seventeen different kinds of machines, 2 different kinds of pods and about 1 million different flavors and just a hell of a lot of decisions for a cup of coffee?!
Annnnnyway…. I was standing in front of her to board my first leg of my trip home and she pulled out two bags of Trader Joe’s chocolate covered something or other and as we got on the plane handed them to the flight attendant and said just a little treat for you. I instantly thought, oh how nice, she is a flight attendant traveling on her day off bringing treats for friends but as I sat in my seat, I kept wondering what the story was behind that. Well lo and behold Nancy Nespresso was standing in front of me from my flight from Dallas to Phoenix! As we were walking down the jetway, I mentioned to her how I realized I boarded right behind her on the last leg of this trip and I specifically remembered because she handed out candy to the flight attendants. And just as though it was perfectly choreographed, she whipped out two more bags as we prepared to step on the plane. She smiled and said “it is just something I like to do, it is a thankless job, people barely smile at them so I always buy one for the crew and one for the cockpit when I fly.” Obviously I had questions, I love to know why people are they way they are. I inquired if this was something she does with other service industries that she encounters day to day, trying to analyze the psychology behind it but there was nothing to figure out, she was just a nice women that wanted to make someones day brighter. So although there are nitwits out there who have no common sense, remember there are also good eggs in the world that just want to make someone’s day a little brighter – be like them.
View From Row 15 