A recount of inflight entertainment

 I got in a few days ago, and as usual, had forgotten how brutal that flight can be. I say CAN be, because your traveling companions can really make or break your trip. Or can have no effect at all. I had to stop and think how these long haul flights can be quite a shock to the social conscience. Think about it; you're forcing people - sometimes people that have a real problem being physically close to other people ( i.e. sitting less than five inches away) to interact, in sardine like traveling conditions no less. Even if the interaction is not direct, like an actual conversation, you're close enough to see what they're reading, watching, or listening to, its way closer than I personally would willingly sit next to a complete stranger.

 

Now, sometimes the conversation can get interesting. Although, I have yet to meet someone completely random where I can actually carry on a decent conversation without feeling totally awkward.

 

Case in point. On my first leg, I was sitting next to a US contractor on his way to Afghanistan. Interesting right? He seemed quite friendly, and I was like - ok, this might be an entertaining (and possibly educational) conversation. We chatted for a little bit in the beginning, random stuff - I hope there are good movies, what are you reading etc. (I was reading "Wicked" if anyone cares). I ended up focusing on my book and a couple of movies. Sleep unfortunately was out of the question. I had an older woman behind me that didn't let me recline ... and the dude in front of me was reclined almost into my lap. It was tight to say the least.

 

Around "breakfast time" we chit chatted a little, particularly about how yogurt and a danish wasn't much of breakfast. He goes, "I'm still hungry." Being the nice person that I am, I offered him the danish I had put aside for my mid morning snack (a move I later regretted when I was really hungry in the airport, and refused to pay $10 for a snack - friggin Euro). anyhoo, I was like, bechara (he was a big guy), but he refused, saying "oh, no I can't ... I was actually going to ask if i could buy you breakfast at the airport." Totally avoiding the invitation to breakfast was like, "no, please go ahead ... " As he ate the danish, he ended up telling me his life story, which continued as we walked off the plane until, finally, a very awkward parting where I kinda veered off to the left and said. " Ok, I gtg this way." 
 

 Awwwwkkwwwaard.

 
Anyhoo, my next leg was even more cramped but less awkward, thankfully. Now I'm home, and just chilling ... so much so that my mind doesn't really work too well, but I guess thats a good thing too!

More random posts to come ...