Sometimes I am still amazed that there are normal, down-to-earth people in the world.
Every Christmas I travel halfway across the world to see my family. I dread the flight as am not good at sitting still for long periods of time, without becoming exceptionally bored - a lifelong affliction (ask my poor mother - I am the annoying "I'm booorrrreedddd" child). This year was different.
As I was organizing my "area" for the next 12 hours, a bright and shining face said "hello". I thought oh no, not again. I had fallen for that before, lulled into a false sense of security by a welcoming face. The last time I'd been polite, it had started a bout of verbal diarrhea that included being "hit on" profusely for the next 5 hours before having a business card thrust into my face and a "let's get together". We had to bump into each other again as we waited for our bags. Had even detoured into the loo to bide my time, so that we didn't have to reunite. Unfortunately that was not the case here.
So I said "hi" rather briskly back to my fellow passenger before busying myself, hoping that he would get the message. He didn't and asked sweetly if I wanted him to put my duvet in the overhead compartment. Then I felt bad and said to the devil on my shoulder ....."have a little Christmas spirit, don't be so rude". And honestly I'm glad I wasn't. We chatted for hours, found out we are in the same biz, drank lots (a wine and cocktail tasting that lasts for 12 hours), laughed and probably annoyed all the passengers around us. We vowed to have dinner when he was next in Los Angeles.
I am a little cautious now I have to admit. I try not to be judgmental or distance but I have, as some would say "an open face". As was always the case in London, on the "last tube" surrounded by the merry older Irish gentlemen (I'm being politically correct), talking incessantly and incoherently to me while at the same time looking for somewhere warm to end their evening of libation.
So my fellow passenger and I had dinner last week. Left off where we had started and laughed continually. We went to the only restaurant in Los Angeles that doesn't take reservations, is packed every night, incredibly noisy and the wait is usually about 2 hours. We got a table as a) there is a RECESSION and b) no-one else would sit outside, although it was warm enough for summery dress and the heat lamps were a-blazing. Traveller friend and I are becoming fast friends.
So, in closing...not EVERYONE is a weirdo but there sure are a lot of them out there.
