I’m sorry I almost killed you.
It was never my intent.
As I sat watching passengers parading up the aisle, and worrying over who would occupy the seat between myself and the man in 14A, you stopped just short of our row and ever so politely asked me if I would mind letting you get to your seat. I practically jumped with joy out of 14C feeling like I had won the travel jackpot to rival all jackpots. You were of average weight and height, had impeccable manners, minimal perfume on, weren’t carrying a bag of Fritos, corn nuts, a tuna sandwich, or a screaming toddler to sit in your lap.
It’s not that I don’t like Fritos or Tuna though I’ve never had the two together. I do hate corn nuts, but I am a mother of two so I get the screaming toddler traveller…been there done that. It’s just while my husband sat in a different row with our two children, I planned on pulling out my brand new MacBook Air and pretending I was some important business woman traveling to a conference on the latest in smart phone technology or an experienced journalist on her way to catch the big story. What I wasn’t pretending to be was a doctor and keynote speaker at a Doctors Without Borders Conference. I had spent enough years playing doctor so to speak, though not with the boy next door so no worries mom.
Since the age of four, I walked around fashioning my plastic stethoscope around my neck. Fisher Price medical bag in hand, I told anyone and everyone that I wanted to be a doctor someday. It is all I ever spoke of, and all I ever imagined becoming when I grew up. It was my third year in college when my dad died. His death opened my eyes to the fact that I was on a path I didn’t really want to be on but stayed true to because I had never considered anything else. I had no Plan B. Kids, always have a Plan B. My dad’s death made me realize that life is too short to do something simply because it is expected of you, so I changed my career path and have never looked back.
That is until you Ma’am. When you started to complain of a headache, and asked if I had any Tylenol (I didn’t) we were still good. When you started to complain you were feeling dizzy, I was happy to ring the button for the flight attendant to bring you some water. I was even okay holding a wet cloth to your forehead when you said you were feeling faint. The problem started when you started to shake, closed your eyes, and became unresponsive.
As I stood in the aisle, amid the flurry of flight attendants and those who had answered the call for a doctor on board and ultimately in life, I knew without a doubt that my playing doctor all those years ago was just that. I suddenly had no need to pretend to be anything other than what I am today…a homeschooling mom of two, wife of one, blogger, and soon to be published author.
I am so glad you were feeling better by the time we landed. I meant you no harm, and if I could I would take back the thought that popped into my head as the plane lifted off…
“Man, do I need something exciting to happen so I have something to write about.”
From the bottom of my heart, thank you and I’m sorry.
My wife is a Doctor and she hates that call for help worse than any other. She starts sweating when we board a plane. She says she is no better than the Red Cross if an emergency happens on a plane but people expect a lot. It’s never happened to her, but she still stresses over it and hates flying because of it.
It’s funny how bloggers think. To echo what you said, we really do see daily occurrences in terms of a post. I’m constantly jotting down ideas and recording material for a future write up. Of course, I never get to half of the ideas but it’s still a good writing practice nonetheless. By the way, I’m glad everything turned out okay with the passenger in seat 14A. It could’ve been a lot worse!
Ha! I wish you could send her your post (and I hope she is okay!). Which would you take- sitting with your kids or helping this woman again?
Well, I would say my kids because at least they are usually good for a couple of new posts, but that well has been a bit dry lately! LOL!
Omg. Your second to last line cracked me up. I don’t know how many times something crazy has happened and my husband or a friend said to me, “well, there’s something for your blog.” Always good to find those silver linings!
Yeah, my husband says that to me all the time! ha ha!
What did the man in 14A do during this drama??! 🙂
Would you believe me if I said nothing? He never said a word…nothing! 🙂
At least it was a memorable flight and no long term harm came to the person. Hope the return flight is less of an adventure.
Yes, I’m so glad she was feeling better by the time we landed. Maybe she had a fear of flying…seems they determined it was a panic attack.
Maybe she was just nervous sitting next to a successful business woman like yourself? 🙂 You might have played your role too well.
Wow!
I know!
Uh oh!!!! Please only think happy thoughts about me, mmmkay? 😉
Always! 😉
WOW!
Sorry for the lady.
And sometimes we don’t realize what we are doing when we ‘wish’ for something.
Glad she’s okay. And I am sure she is most happy that what you wrote about was funny, eventful, and ended up not being serious.
Great post.
I was so glad she started to feel better. I felt horrible for her…no fun feeling that bad while you’re stuck on an airplane. They determined it was a severe panic attack. Poor thing. 🙁
I’ve seen people end up in the hospital with anxiety attacks. I’m sure she was grateful for your kindness to her. That makes a difference, as we all know. 🙂
You better be careful what you think from now on! 🙂
No kidding huh?!! ha ha!
Yowsers! Did you ask her if you could have her cold beverage while she was half conscious?
It was only water. 🙁
I hate when that happens! lol.
😉
Not every day that happens… I bet after that, you were wishing for a Frito enthusiast.
I would’ve had plenty of material sitting next to a Frito enthusiast too! 😉
Now that’s an eventful plane ride!
Indeed! 😉
If it helps my husband is a doctor and he still doesn’t like answering those calls as he says ‘what can I do without x, y and z equipment?’. He does of course but he doesn’t enjoy doing it.
Lol at wishing for something exciting to happen so you can write about it – something all of us on here can empathise with I should think (especially someone like me who has only just started…)
That’s funny. I’ve always thought the same thing. What is a doctor supposed to do without any equipment. They had a blood pressure monitor, but that’s about all I saw. 😉 As writers/bloggers I think we are all always thinking in terms of a post…even when we don’t know it. LOL Welcome to the bloggerhood!