PDX -> DIA

Second trip to Nashville, with a brief stop in Denver first.

I got to PDX with lots of time. Had lunch, got some coffee and cozied up at gate C9 to wait to board. But half an hour before the departure time, the gate was still empty and I kept double checking to make sure C9 was right. With ten minutes to spare, I looked closer at my boarding pass and realized…

C 09 was my BOARDING CLASS, NOT MY GATE. I quickly made my way over to C16, where the final passengers of the flight were boarding the plane. No big deal, I thought to myself. I made it and that’s all that matters.

So there I am on the plane, trying to figure out which two people to sit between. There was a very cute boy. But I walked past. Then the flight attendant told me where to sit. I did. The man next to me said “That seat is taken.” and I said “oh, okay…” and went to get up and he laughed and said “JUST KIDDING!” and put his hand on my arm.

I said “haha” to be nice, and then sighed to myself. It’s not that I don’t like strangers or people. But I think there is a proper way to begin a conversation with a stranger, and it wasn’t happening.

I pulled out my book and started reading. He put his head really close to my shoulder and read along with me. Which I pretended to ignore though I really was wondering how he could have no notice of something called a personal space bubble.

“You’re really into that book, aren’t you?” He asked.

Yes, and it’s your cue to not talk to me, I wanted to say. But instead I just nodded.

He stared at me for a moment and then asked “Are you antisocial?” and I said “no.” He thought for a moment and said “Is this your first time flying?” and I said “no.” Then he said “You probably don’t drink, do you.” Which offended me a little bit, mostly the assumption that he knew me, and said no. Then he asked me if I wanted to connect to the in-flight wifi because he’d give me the password. I said no, that I like being not connected for awhile.

After that I kept concentrating REALLY HARD on the book I was reading and I think he got the hint.

But it was still THE MOST awkward/uncomfortable plane ride I’ve ever taken. Oh well. Next time I get off a plane… NASHVILLE!