Who can work like this, really??
Now that I’m settling into my routine of work travel, I’m noticing a few things that are irritating me that otherwise may not be bothersome on the once a year travel you might have for vacation A) because you’re on your vacation! and B) tolerance of other people is easier when you’re feeling jovial cuz dammit, you’re on vacation.
But one thing in particular is really getting under my skin these days. Drum roll please…….for those of us that can’t afford to fly 1st Class….do we really need reclining seats on airplanes?
Effects of the Reclining Airplane Seat
Today for example…I’m working on my laptop and the gal in front of me decided to recline her seat, which I happen to think is extremely rude. I politely refrain from reclining my seat because I don’t want to cause any unhappy events for the person traveling behind me. Happy for her–she just received extra value of her purchased onboard real estate by increasing her head and upper body room (and physical space) by taking my space from me and doing just that, reclining her seat. Well…while I wish I could be happy for you–lady-in-front-of-me, sister…let me tell you what your move of comfort did for me sitting behind you!
Suddenly the view of my screen started to disappear as the seat moved back…my screen was closing right on my fingers! Now..I am a bit bigger of a woman.. (yes a little more to love!) but these seats aren’t made so one person can recline while another works on their laptop behind them. It’s either one or the other! So..there I was mid sentence into the ‘What’s Your Travel Style’? blog (yet to be published) post and Rude Sally in front of me reclined her seat and ended my roll. I sucked in my breath for fear of losing my fingers and quickly pulled my laptop towards me. There is no possible way of working in this little space…trust me, I tried to reposition it several different ways and can’t type! Thus, I am one-finger typing this on my beloved iPhone.
This pic doesn't do justice to the time space continuum, there's more space than meets the eye for this guy!
Frustrated and just as I was folding up my laptop gear I noticed a guy 2 rows up and across the aisle do the same thing to the older lady behind him. She was reading her book in solitude and she actually needs this space to read. As I mentioned…she’s older, wears eye glasses and was interrupted by the guy in front of her. I could tell she was irritated as she tucked her book inside the seat pocket in front of her. Next she folded her arms across her body and went to sleep.
Let’s look at this Skinny Bitch behind me one row back across the aisle against the window. Now people, don’t get your feathers in a ruffle by that term of endearment. All you SB’s out there know who you are and you belong to an elite club of other SB’s to which this Plump Bitch is not a member. You’re diet is not for the faint of heart… y’all can survive on a pack of peanuts and 250 cals per day, let alone per meal. In fact, those peanuts you have in front of you are all you’ve probably eaten or will eat today. No worries though, cuz when this plane goes down and we have to evacuate I’ll have enough energy to get out. And trust me, I won’t save you! (okay…I will! Those of you who know me know I have the “broken-wing syndrome” or call it Catholic guilt–and I’m not even Catholic! 🙂
Hey Skinny Bitch against the window! You already have MILES of space--do you really need to crunch the gal in front of you?
Okay.. so back to the SB across the aisle. Look at her (pic below)..she has 16 f’ing miles of space in front of her. She’s not even reclining back..she’s nodding off sitting straight up. Hang on..I’m going to check out the guy behind her…..(slyly looking over my shoulder here) … Oh it’s a gal with a pony tail and she can’t lean back. Why?? Her pony tail. And her book is 3 inches in front of her face cuz Skinny Bitch there in front of her is taking up her space!
I was talking to these two great Seattle ladies next to me in my row en route to Tahiti to meet up with 5 of their other gal pals (AWESOME!!!) for a week of sunshine and beach bliss. The topic of reclining came up…and we chatted about how it creates a domino effect with people…one goes back…the next person goes back..but then there’s the one person that is trying to work that always gets it in the shorts when it comes to space. On a recent trip to Europe, her Dad was happily reading his book, ended up having to hold it to his face in order to read…and frankly, it’s uncomfortable.
Even now as I type this I’m getting a cramp in the joint of my index finger and my neck hurts and eyes are straining. It really is a bitch getting older…but even more, having someone else reduce my productivity when it’s needless–the gal in front of me is just sitting there looking straight ahead. Does she REALLY NEED THAT EXTRA 8″???
Oh well.., (looonng siiggghhh) I’m going to mentally go to my happy place (which happens to be a delightful image of a Tahiti sunset sipping a delightful beverage feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, cuz God knows I’ve been freezing my ass off in Seattle all week!!) and rest my aching finger. Ouch! I wonder if the stewardess can bring me some ice? I think it’s starting to swell.
Blessings and Love,
Mrs. Briteside
Update–20 mins later: I reposition my magazine so I can rest my hand on the edge of the seat that’s been in my personal space for the last 2 hours. Quickly, the gal turned around and scowled. With a smart smile I giggled and thought to myself–“if your seat is in MY space..I can damn well use it to rest my aching arm! :-)))
Chasing Serendipity 