I pickle.
All this time on the road is making for some deep dive life examination and new wacky travel stories. First up, the new gig is going great. I am on a tour of all the businesses that fall under my new company’s umbrella and in my brief time I’ve already found ways to make an impact. I have to say that feels good. I have a minor gift for spotting fake work and luckily for me (not for the pretenders) that falls under my new responsibilities. One such individual that I had a couple of uncomfortable conversations with in my first week has already asked their boss for a change in position which got me some begrudged respect.
The travel pattern is coming along and it’s already starting to feel normal. Leaving on a Monday and returning on Friday will be my life for a while and as I level up my status with the airline and a couple hotel chains things will slowly get better there as well. My new company is not as obsessed with saving money so that will take me some time to get used to but overall the travel has been nice and the people watching has reached a whole new level of entertaining.
Last week one of my midweek flights was completely full. I am not yet booking these things out far enough to get the best prices so anything but the back of the bus still doesn’t feel right. I tell you this because my oversized self gets tightly packed in especially when the middle seat is occupied and that’s just what happened. I also sit higher than most - which means when bored I tend to look around and get into other people’s business.
Having watched the movies that peaked my interest already this month I am now listening to audiobooks. When those hit slow spots my mind begins to wander and I start inspecting the environment around me. The woman to my left who was by some definitions sitting in my lap was in the middle of a text fight with a significant other. I was watching this exchange from the point I jumped in which appeared to be a difference of opinion of how her boyfriend acted at a gathering the previous evening.
Back and forth they went. She was using elevated language like juvenile and sophomoric while he asked if it was uncomfortable flying with the stick up her ass. I actually wanted this dude’s contact information because I know that he and I could be friends. Back and forth it went and I was really enjoying myself to the point that I kind of forgot I was reading on someone else’s phone…
She finally broke down and gave in to her baser humanity calling him a dick. He replied by sending a picture of said same. After realizing I was looking at another man’s unit and watching her hands shake with rage I laughed out loud. This caused her to immediately look over at me while I was still obviously staring at her screen. All the anger she had immediately shifted my way and she proceeded to stare laser beams directly into my eyeballs.
Even after I looked away in shame her gaze cast a heat on my person. We had about an hour remaining in the flight and every time I looked even partially around she was locked on my face. This prompted me to want to ask for her partners contact information again just to text him “you’re welcome” but I was too afraid.
I might have to start wearing mirrored sunglasses on flights because I have no desire to repeat that situation but I know myself and will not be able to curb my wandering attention. Being me can sometimes be a pickle. Everyone have a great week and keep your eyes to yourselves but if you can’t let me know what you see!