On the road again: IDF, San Francisco, day 4
The conference ended yesterday, as I noted in last night's post, but I still attribute today to it because much of today went to making my way home. I awoke at oh-dark-thirty, showered, rode with a somewhat crazier than usual cabbie to the airport, and then went to work in the Admirals' Club.
I didn't consider those early hours to be very good, but they were charming next to the over three hours I spent on the plane.
My seat appeared promising: exit-row aisle. As I approached it, though, I saw a fairly large, white-haired businessman sitting in the middle seat, his elbows protruding into the seats on either side of him. Not a good sign. As I was preparing to sit, I pointed to his elbow in my space and said, "I need to sit." He nodded but did not move his elbow. So, I sat slowly, my ass starting to push his elbow down. He glanced up, grunted, and pulled it enough out of the way that I could sit. As soon as I was seated, he pushed his elbow into my side. I tried pushing back with my body, but he held firm. So, I reached down and pushed his elbow to the edge of the armrest; I was willing to let him have all of it given that I had the aisle. He grunted but let it sit there.
For about ten minutes. He then pushed it back into me.
I pushed it away again. This time, I said, "Please stop pushing into my body with your elbow."
He said nothing.
We continued this pattern for the rest of the time we were on the plane.
I am once again proud that I did not hit him.
When he got up to use the restroom, he pointedly stepped on my toes as I was trying to get out of his way.
I said, "That was unnecessary."
He grunted.
I spotted him coming back and was out of the way this time, so he could not step on my toes again.
I put my laptop in my backpack and went to the restroom.
When I returned, I pulled it hard and fast from the backpack into his shin.
He said the only words he spoke to me the entire time. "What the--?"
I grunted. I didn't even try to hide my smile.
Yes, it was entirely petty, but I still felt better for doing it.
The next leg was bliss by comparison: an upgrade and non-stop work, with no one bothering me.
Now, I'm home, and that is a very good thing indeed.
2 comments:
You apparently are an asshat magnet. Maybe that is one of your missions in life. To gather them around you on a plane so the rest of us can fly in peace. Sheesh!
Perhaps you're right. It certainly feels that way sometimes.
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