Wednesday, April 05, 2006

When I was mentally composing this post, I had three things I wanted to talk about. But now I can only remember two. I think this is very indicative of my long travel day yesterday.

Speaking of which, there was this guy on the second leg of my flight. And it was a little windy and bumpy during the flight, especially at take-off and landing times. Poor guy was not taking it well. He started stream-of-consciousness talking to me, the total stranger to his right to whom he had not introduced himself, about all sorts of stuff. Particularly his anti-anxiety medication that he forgot to take. The bumpiness made me feel a bit queasy, so I didn't mind the conversation (if you could call it that, monologue with interjected "oh's" and "rights" from me is really more appropriate) because it took my mind off my own troubles. But let me tell you, it's a good thing I don't have any flying-related phobias, because on the way down he chose to cope by telling me flying horror stories. The one where the plane crashed in Charlotte because of a sudden wind gust when it was taking off (he wasn't on that plane, but lives in Charlotte). The one where the plane had to take off at the foot of a mountain in St. Martin's and was flying up at an 80 degree angle (he was on that plane). The one where the plane hit a huge air pocket over the Pacific Ocean and dropped 1800 feet, sending those not buckled in knocking into the roof (that one too). So understandably he was a little paranoid about flying, but I don't really see how recounting scary plane times helped. If we had a big lurch he would have to pause (while white-knuckling the tray table) to regain his composure. I guess I just find the whole story interesting because I didn't talk at all, he just talked to me, and I can't decide if it's something nice, like I have a sympathetic face, or less nice and I was the body that happened to be next to him.

Also, on an unrelated note, does anyone have any good book recommendations? Now, when I mean good, I do not mean anything written by this or this person, for instance. It is important that we delineate between "entertaining" and "good." The last really good novel I read (that I can remember, anyway) was The Kite Runner. I've also read some good memoirs, Reading Lolita in Tehran and The Bookseller of Kabul, so a memoir would work too. My brain has been feeling a bit like mush lately, and I'm not okay with that. Any thoughts are much appreciated. Gracias, merci, and thanks y'all.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger!! It's fantastic. It makes you think a lil bit, but not too much. Know what I mean? ;)

E :)

Rachel said...

Good recommendation! I have, unfortunately, already read that one. But it was really good, and I second it!

Anonymous said...

Did you you not know that Dean Koontz' brother is married to my mom's cousin Nancy who lives on the Maryland side of D.C.? We were going to eat with her when we visited and maybe even live with them! Good thing that never happened!

Sarah

Anonymous said...

Have you read Blue Clay People? VERY good!

~Lindsey

Stereoette said...

im sure you've already done kavalier and clay... but i love it so...

danielle said...

i recoment "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." i can't remember who wrote it, but the cover interested me and i randomly picked it up one day. it's a short read, but an intersting and good one.

danielle said...

ps- if that guy was sitting nex to me on a plane, i would have moved seats. or have joined him in his white-knuckling of the tray table.