The Missing Piece

Hi Frank!

Cómo estás? I’ve just arrived home from a fine time at the house in Mexico. I will have to say that since I’m traveling back and forth frequently, (during the remodelación and simply because I love the country) I have tried to put into place every possible thing to make travel a breeze. I think I’ve almost reached the pinnacle of travel “ease”.  Somewhat. Not quite. Nvrmd, read on.

On my return trips from Mexico, I’ve uploaded my lab’s Covid results to my airline app, I’ve received my Health QR Code from vuelaseguro.com which is easy to show as I enter the airport, and once I land in the US, my Global Entry designation has definitely allowed me to zip through customs lines.

However, on my recent flight from Querétaro to Houston, (layover to Charleston) it’s clear that there’s one more piece to the puzzle that is missing.

Here’s what happened:  On the plane, I repositioned my cashmere throw (a must for cold natured amphibians like you and I) to nestle cozily in my seat, then reached up to my ear to turn down the volume to its lowest setting on my hearing aids, to lessen the barrage of loud enthusiasm coming from the man across the aisle. He was speaking Spanish dramatically to his new friend seated next to him and it was clear it is not his native language. I can hear the “Texas” in his pronunciation.

I couldn’t help but know quite a bit about him, since his loudness demanded lots of attention and drowned out all hope of hearing one’s own thoughts. One thing for sure, he’s a happy guy (somewhat reminding me of the characters in this video)

https://youtu.be/Y8V8iPnsKM0

and clearly, he was super tickled to be seated next to a Mexican. Throughout the flight, he belted out his stories in Spanish, adding some really great long, rolled r’s wherever possible. (I’ll admit- it’s pretty fun and I’ve done the same, myself). His seatmate was obviously enthralled.

Thing is, though, I became irritated with it all. However, during my fit of anger I was simultaneously marveling at his abilities in Spanish with, of all things, the past perfect (el pretérito pluscuamperfecto) and the future perfect. As you know, the past perfect form is used when we are speculating about past events. Good night alive, Frank, who needs to speculate in Spanish?  I knew I would not, and therefore, chose not to learn that tense, of course.  

I leaned forward over my tray table and turned to glare at him. Didn’t help. I  performed one of the biggest masked frowns I could possibly muster. Scary, I thought. But nothing. I considered hands on hips and stomping my feet but I think he was oblivious to much of what was going on around him. (It’s that thing that happens to us on occasion, when we get caught up in the moment. Definitely something I’ve engaged in, as you all know).

Totally into a novel I had carried onboard, The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, I was anxious to get to the next chapter. However, there was absolutely NO CHANCE I could follow any of the storyline, not with his loud cackle bouncing off the walls of the plane and rolling across the aisle like thunder, blasting forth into my ears.

But, I’ll have to say, he was certainly a joyful guy. So much cheer was emanating from this man that it filled the whole area around us. To heck with the book, I thought. I’ll read it later.

This experience was much better than the negativity we could have had onboard. Mask mandates seem to be bringing out the worst in some of us. From what I’ve been reading, airlines are one after the other having to divert flights because of a danger-filled episode with an angry passenger.

So, Frank, I decided to turn myself around, so to speak. Putting the book away, I ordered a Bailey’s Irish Cream from the flight attendant, (who, luckily, had one bottle left) sat back, closed my eyes and sipped away, listening to this gentleman’s stories, decidedly enjoying them, one after the other.

Even still, I’m hoping to get some noise cancelling headphones in my stocking this Christmas, hint hint. 😉  And frankly, Frank, I think you need some, too.  Then, we will be fully equipped for the most tranquil of travel experiences!

Love, 

Jane

Addendum:  Happily, I received said headphones, Boze, for Christmas from David and Haddie!  ❤️ 🎧❤️