Traveling, like all things disruptive, brings out the best and worst in people.\u00a0 Today was an exercise in the worst.<\/p>\n
I got on the flight, the typical flight where the last person on board has to be greased up to get in their seat.\u00a0 No upgrade possible, not even ‘economy comfort’.\u00a0 So I was sitting amongst what felt like several hundred strangers all in my personal space.<\/p>\n
Then I heard the voice, close by and loud.\u00a0 A woman’s voice that seems to carry throughout the plane, echoing\u00a0 down the aisle, as she began on her story to her seat companions.\u00a0 Her voice was in just that register that grated on my sensitive ears, and carried past the normal.<\/p>\n
I assumed a few minutes and she would become silent, or at least become aware of the looks.\u00a0 I was, as I so often am wrong.\u00a0 When the 10,00 foot announcement came on, I grabbed the Bose headphones as quickly as I could.\u00a0 The three men across the aisle, sitting in front of her, were looking at the ear coverings with longing.<\/p>\n
I could STILL hear her, over ‘This American Life’, over the Doors, over DEF LEPPARD!\u00a0 It was not as bad, but it was still there.<\/p>\n
A two hour flight, and all I could figure was that she was practicing the art of circular breathing.\u00a0 There was no let-up.<\/p>\n
I had to relinquish the headphones as we descended, the soliloquy was still in full flight.\u00a0 As we deplaned I did ask on of the men across the aisle if she had taken a breat, his response was a look of horror.<\/p>\n
Some people are nervous about flying, and anxiety can take on many forms.\u00a0 But if you are on a flight amongst strangers and find yourself explaining that your offspring’s middle name is from\u00a0 the general who commanded your great-great-grandfathers regiment in a war (any war!), it is time to stop.\u00a0 It is time to take a deep breath, and exhale slowly.\u00a0 To be silent, to cultivate peace.\u00a0 Close your eyes, and remember that the people around you might be visualizing stuffing one of those nasty polyester blankets down your throat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"