Germs and delays.

Germs.

 

When I began this journey I was horrified at what I would see people touch or do on a regular basis.  I got over that rather quickly on one of my first trips when I sat next to a man in scrubs (he wasn't a doctor) who had a hacking cough on a flight from New Orleans to Atlanta.  At not even 20k feet the man turns to me and confesses his doctor was concerned he could have pertussis, but this trip had been planned for months and he wasn't going to miss it.  Fantastic.  Trapped in a tube hurdling through the air and I can't escape.

 

 

 

 

Short of showing up at the airport wearing a full hazmat or bubble boy suit, I needed to find a way to psych myself out of the germ thing.  That's where my "sanity placebo" comes in.  I never go on a trip now without some form of Airborne and hand sanitizer.  Thanks to a pilot friend, I've recently discovered I love the chewable form of Airborne - tasty and I don't need water.

 

 

 

 

Now, I'm no Dr. Sheldon Cooper using hand sanitizer or spray every 5 seconds, but if I get particularly skeeved out (airport bathroom stalls) I have no problem using it.

 

 

 

Besides, clean hands and a boost of vitamin C never hurt anyone. 

 

 

Delays.

 

We have all been delayed for one reason or another; weather, maintenance, crew swap, computer issues - take your pick, it happens.  I've never quite understood why people get so angry and ugly with the airline representatives like they are the ones controlling these things.  It's a huge waste of energy and it's just plain rude.  Call me crazy, but you might not want to aggravate the person who has the power to move you to a middle seat in the back of the plane. 

 

That being said, I have learned that I get a bit cranky when I get hungry which happens sometimes with delayed flights.  Knowing this, I carry a small stash of snacks in my bag and I try to keep an empty water bottle to refill if I am stuck in an airport before or after stores open.  Emerald 100 Calorie packs of mixed nuts and turkey jerky have been a savior on more than one occasion, satisfying without the crash I'd get with a candy bar.  I also carry a pack of oatmeal and a pack or two of tea - both can  be prepared on a plane with a cup of hot water and I feel a little more balanced when I get where I am going.

 

 

I am not a health nut by any means, but I do try to make healthier choices with what I carry in my bag when possible.

 

Anyway, eat something, take a deep breath and take a look around.  There's plenty of good people watching at every airport in the world.  Whatever you were going to will still be there when you finally get there, so just relax.

 

 

So remember, people can be gross and follow the "sharing is caring" school of thought with germs and please, eat something and take a deep breath before you get upset about a delayed flight.