let’s (not) chat
I’m an anti-social flyer. I’m not one to make small talk with the people around me as I wait (un)patiently at the gate. I don’t initiate conversation with those seated around me on the plane. I definitely don’t feel compelled to forge any new friendships on my altogether-too-long trip home. In fact, I avoid making eye contact with people I think may be the chatty type.
About halfway through the flight, I turned to Niel and said, “That Auntie keeps looking over here. I get the feeling that the moment her eyes lock with mine, she’ll begin talking incessantly.”
Maybe that means I’m rude. Maybe that means I’m not as concerned about reaching people with God’s love as I should be.
Maybe it just means I want to stay in my personal space bubble and sleep.
I survived the flight without any chat attacks.
After we landed, got our luggage, and cleared customs, we drove home (a 3 hour drive). We pulled in front of our house and I walked inside. I haven’t been here in five months: in some ways it seemed very much like “same ol’ same ol’” and in other ways it seemed very foreign to me.
I walked into the living room and called, questioningly, “Starbucks?” Our African Grey climbed out of his cage and said, “Hello!” I thought he might hold a grudge for a while since I’ve been gone so long, but he climbed right onto my finger and let me pet him. He made kissing noises and said “kisses” just for me.
Now that kind of chatting, I enjoy!
@cassgirl says:
We would make great flight partners.
I just want to sleep.
Now, in real life WATCH OUT… I can talk about how 2 blues of shade differ.. etc. :)
Starbucks… Good job, well done my friend!!!
Promise me that if you see me on an airplane that you’ll make eye contact. I am not always chatty but I would be with you!!!!
cindy — heck yeah! i’d ask you a kajillion questions and learn all i could from you. that’d be the only time the flight didn’t seem long enough!
Welcome home Sweet Girl. I am actually kind of jealous. I really don’t know why my emotions are all over the place…but really, I miss home. I needed to get here, and now, I miss there. Will I ever be settled? Dang.
@atangie says:
If only airplane seats did actually allow us the area illustrated by your clever graphic there.
@moweezle says:
I’m totally with you….I just wanna sleep and watch a movie or two. And, I’m so glad Starbucks was happy to see you. He was prob thinking, “Finally. My mom is home!”
OK I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY!! THEN I WILL READ THE COMMENTS AND COME BACK TO COMMENT ON THE NORMAL STUFF. BUT I JUST HAVE TO GET SOMETHING OFF MY CHEST!
YOUR A BIRD PERSON??? I DON’T KNOW IF WE CAN BE FRIENDS ANYMORE…. NO. I JUST WOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN YOU FOR A BIRD LADY!!
@ventigrace says:
Wow kitty… you’re there. and I’m here. but not for long.
This might seem silly- but I paused and just looked at your sidebar picture for a minute or two. It was taken in my old kitchen. Can you even believe how much has changed since then? wow.
On this end… the padres don’t know how to gear up for our departure… so it has been like a ghost town… no one in sight. That makes me sad. Ugh. I’m just ready for Thursday… let’s get this show on the road.
Glad you made it home safely.
Um, I’m the kind of person you don’t want to sit next to! Bwahaha! I get completely bored if I don’t have someone to chat with. Maybe it is because I don’t fly very often and it is really just nervous chat?!?
@mandythompson says:
Glad you’re home safe. :)
I mean… Scratch that “home” part. ‘Cause I’m not glad you’re home.
But I am glad you’re safe.
@coloraturajoy says:
as i was reading this, i thought…i wonder if she would be tempted to avoid eye contact with me…like…i wonder if i’ve got that “chatty” look.
hmm. i could do the whole snooty, my-black-frame-glasses-mean-i’m-more-than-likely-smarter-than-you-and-therefore-won’t-even-want-to-talk-to-you look. ooh, ooh! or i could glam up, with vogue in hand and do the whole i’m-an-heiress-and-therefore-much-too-good-to-talk-to-you look.
i bet one of those would make me look less chatty. you know…just in case.
@coloraturajoy says:
as i was reading this, i thought…i wonder if she would be tempted to avoid eye contact with me…like…i wonder if i’ve got that “chatty” look.
hmm. i could do the whole snooty, my-black-frame-glasses-mean-i’m-more-than-likely-smarter-than-you-and-therefore-won’t-even-want-to-talk-to-you look. ooh, ooh! or i could glam up, with vogue in hand and do the whole i’m-an-heiress-and-therefore-much-too-good-to-talk-to-you look.
i bet one of those would make me look less chatty. you know…just in case.
It is great to hear you made it back to SA safely. I am sure Starbucks did miss you as much as you missed him. How much time do spend chatting with Starbucks?
I like meeting new people. On planes and trains I try to respect other people’s private space, but if someone wants to talk I can spends hours having a friendly chat.
I
AM
SO
THAT
WAY.
And I feel just as bad about it. Why is that??? I think because inside we’re actually friendly people with NO inclination to be the hi-I’ve-never-met-you-before type. I think. Probably the one time I feel bad about being who I am more than any other … but should I feel that way?? I suppose not. We are made in His image. sigh. And I LOVE chatting with those I already do have a long standing with (pets too, yep!) just as much.
@tamhodge says:
a long as the person next to me doesnt have a cold, i dont do too bad. they get the “look” if they start coughing and suck their nose snot down their throat. thats just never ok.
i will be forever bummed that you were SOOOOO close to me and i never got to physically see your face. ahhh…my heart weeps.
kisses! kisses! kisses! ;-)
Okay, I am so glad we met ONLINE because if we met on a plane, we would not be friends. haha! I am the chatty person on the plane who will talk to you. I won’t aproach you though…. I wait for someone to talk to me. But then it’s all downhill…. kind of. If I don’t like you I’ll cough or suck my nose snot (all for you Tam!) to keep you away. LOL! Keep in mind though, it’s a nervous chatter. Always.
@danielleH says:
It means you’re an introvert. ;) That’s okay.
I’m not, so I chat.
Glad you are back safe and sound at home.
Hahaha. That was the most brilliant cartoon (of course).
(and I’d agree with Danielle on the conclusion of introvertedness)
ok i’m back now. I love flying and I cant remember a really bad flight where someone talked like crazy. I did sit between an old married couple from Germany once. That was awkward! I am good for some talk but if they turn out to be weird or crazy I can give the cold shoulder very fast. I mostly like to sleep and watch movies on the ride.
I’m glad your home safe and sound, and I do believe we can still be friends even though you have a bird. We had 2 little birds when we lived in Mexico and one bit me once, not fun.
@cassgirl says:
After reading these comments and your cartoon, it would make me believe you are an introvert.
But are you really??
Oh she is. Believe you me.
parts of us wish you were still in the U.S. but cathi and i are so glad you and niel [1] made it back safely & [2] are where God wants you to be and serve!!!
keep us posted!
oh and i try not to talk to anyone on planes! for the simple fact that i can’t hear once we get in the air and i’m sure the last thing people want on a long flight is someone yelling in conversation!!
not gonna do it!!
home always smells like home to me. i’ve never been away from home for that long, but i understand coming home.
glad you are home. =)
So glad you made it home safely!
I am definitely like you on planes. I take along reading material even if I don’t plan on actually reading it just so that I have something to make me look busy! :)
Glad to know you got home OK. It’s such a mixed thing I find getting ‘home’ after being away for a long time at your other ‘home’ :) So funny that Starbaucks said “kisses” to you, very cute, and nice welcome home :)
I think you and I would fly well together…..I am the same way! I felt guilty about that till reading your post and realized I wasn’t the only one who felt this way…..thank you! I hear people talking about how, “Oh I met this man on the plane and we talked the whole time……” Inside I am like, “Uh, that would be torture!” I just want to get on, watch my movies and get to my destination. Though flying with little ones is much different these days…..I am too busy to chat! Though I did find the comfort of chatting to one mommy when we flew to the US in November. We were shoooshing our little ones in the galley area and she had some great traveling tips for me! :) Other than that…..I keep to myself too! Glad to have you back this side again……welcome home!!!
dang this new laptop is SOOO sensitive!
So….I was saying,
I am so glad you made it home. I am praying often for you.
This post cracks me up. I have felt like Ed at times in my life, and like you in others. But as I read this, I felt like I was reading my own mind!
Not rude. Just needed solace. You have been through a lot lately. You don’t have a continual “ON” switch ywdon’t
dang this new laptop is SOOO sensitive!
So….I was saying,
I am so glad you made it home. I am praying often for you.
This post cracks me up. I have felt like Ed at times in my life, and like you in others. But as I read this, I felt like I was reading my own mind!
Not rude. Just needed solace. You have been through a lot lately. You don’t have a continual “ON” switch ywdon’t
that was supposed to be, you know. ughhhh
i’m glad to hear so many relate to me. and to those of you who don’t—don’t worry, i’d make eye contact with you! :-)
faith — yep. i guess i’m a bird lady. i always had parrots growing up, and we’ve had starbucks for 4 years now…
joe renee — i think you would indeed have the chatty look, but if you keep working on those other looks you described, we’d have nothing to worry about!
ed — i don’t talk to him too much. usually in the mornings i bring him into the bathroom to hang out with us while we’re getting ready, and in the evenings he’ll sit with us a bit, but otherwise he’s just in the living room so he’s always listening and chit-chatting to himself!
annie — i loved your comment!!
heidi — yes indeed, i am an introvert!
becca — “believe you me” — sheeeesh!
storie — yeah, i think that’s it exactly. i just want to switch “off” for a while and if i can only do that on a flight (no matter how long or short it may be), i’m taking it!
I AM SO WITH YOU ON THIS. That cartoon is the BEST!! People right up in my space, cutting in front of me, breathing down my neck, etc. — oy!!
By the way, I think noise-cancelling headphones are the greatest invention ever – and they also help you to just do your own thing on a plane.
So glad you’re safely back home, Alece, getting re-aquainted with everything and everyone, including Mr. Birdee. Rick and I call this the “re-entry period,” like rocket ships re-entering the atmosphere! :)
Give yourself full permission to TAKE IT EASY.
:)
re-entry sounds just about right for how i’m feeling!
I so live in Africa! I just had a great response and the internet screwed up….arghh.
Anyway- I am so the same way, but I am VERY much an extrovert. I think it is because I travel so much by myself.
I have always felt bad about it…like if I was more open God could do so much through me…I am a missionary after all.
So I have a solution….I try to chat for the first 10-15 minutes and then stay to myself the other 15 hours of the trip. That way, God has His window…and so do I! :)
okay, char, i couldn’t NOT laugh at how little the window is for God and how big it is for you… high-five for your honesty. and hey, God is the God of the miraculous, so He can do supernatural things in 15 minutes!
I am the same way on planes. I avoid contact, I don’t like making new friends on the planes! I will talk, I would rather have my own space during those long flights! Sounds just like me…
I am glad you are home safe and sound!
There’s nothing quite like home. I’m glad you are back in your space. Tell Starbucks “Phtpththhthtpp” for me.
awwww, he must miss you cause he just said it back!
Everyone deserves their own space once in a while. Sometime one feels obligated to make small talk as to not seem rude. To each his own…
@20BOLD11 says:
I am praying for your adjustment. Having gone from “home” to “home” in the last 8 years and not always knowing which one feels more like home and when, I can definitely relate to that in-between feeling.
The cartoon was so cute! I think I’ve had the impression that you’re on the quieter side in person. I used to be a chatter box on the plane when I was a kid. I remember we went to Disney World; I must have been 8 years old and we were in Enland at the time, and I made a few friends [older people btw] who gave me names of ride to go on and shared chocolate with me. I loved it! I even made a pen pal on that trip that I wrote to for years.
Love you Leece :)
sammy — welcome to the grit!
ayles — thanks for understanding; i figured you might!
Glad y’all arrived home safely…..cracking up about the personal space non chatting, I feel the SAME way!! Ha!! :D Hope you are settling in well….can’t wait to hear more about your adventures (I’m a new reader!) :)
kari — it’s so reassuring to know i’m not the only one like this! thanks for your “confession”!