暖冬cool夏

這裏一年四季溫暖如春,沒有酷暑沒有嚴寒......
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An encounter on the airplane

(2018-09-16 10:25:25) 下一個

I parted at the airport with my husband, who had an unexpected business trip the night we were leaving Seattle. As our trip was planned way ahead in May, the cancelation of the flight turned out to be a little bit costlier than the flight fare itself. So I decided to leave his ticket as is without cancelation to see what will happen. After going through the long security check and boarding lines,  I finally seated myself against a window.  Rested, I looked at the empty seat next to me with much contentment, fancying myself stretched sprawlingly when tired. Minutes before the take-off, a middle-aged woman showed up and squeezed in. She took the seat, a seat we paid for. I reluctantly straightened my body and moved my bag underneath closer to myself. I glanced at her and could not stop wondering when the seat was sold to her. Was it half an hour ago when the boarding was complete or was it even earlier when I made the call the day before?

About 15 minutes later, the plane finally geared up and propelled itself toward the dusk sky. The light was turned dim inside the cabin. It was quiet. Nobody was talking. Outside the window, the distant sunset sky was layered in pink on the top and blue at the bottom, the same scene I saw the third time now.  The air was stuffy as in any plane. Bored, I took out the cell phone to write my Chinese or English but found my brain drained. As the time ticked by, I started to feel restless, and keeping changing my sitting postures only made it worse. The monotonous engine noise of the plane added to the boredom and discomfort. The first one-hour flight seemed so unbearably long. The thought of another an hour and a half duration like this agitated me. The guy at the end of the isle was flipping his newspaper with annoying sounds. Turning around, I saw the lady next to me awake but buried her head low with the hood of the jacket covered all over. The unsettling question of when she got ticket came back to me.  I plucked up my courage, turned myself a little bit towards her and opened my mouth with a hi and an excuse- me.  She did not move or raised her head, her eyes fixating downward at her cell phone. I tried the two words again, but my second attempt failed as well.  Not sure why she did not respond to me, I turned back and continued my gaze outside the window.  Then the stewardess with a cart came over offering drink. I asked for a cup of orange juice. When it was her turn, she took off her hood and the earphones. I knew instantly that it must be the music in her earphones that drowned out my previous greeting.  After both of us were served with drinks, I caught a moment for her attention and thus began my third attempt to strike the conversation. Small talks were ensued by my story of what happened to my husband ticket, and my curiosity of when she purchased the ticket. She told me she got it for free, as two of her daughters work for the airline. Proudly she told me how she has been frequenting Seattle to see her daughters and grandchildren, and how as one of the employees’ perks, she, as a mom, always flies free, only that she has to wait till the last minute, like this time. She also told me how great the company is, which allowed one year maternal leave for her daughter without discounting any senoriority.  As our talks deepened, time sneaked away quickly. Not sure if I interrupted her for her private time, I gestured to her for her continuation of the music. She smiled back, saying that the talks made the time go faster, and she appreciated my small talks too.

Surprisingly my back did not feel that sore any more, nor my legs. Leisurely I looked out the window again, and this time the city beneath was visible from the  elevation. Out of darkness, there were silver rivers of lights glittering with golden colors woven in between. Irregular the patterns were,  they were like checkerboards carved out with dim borders flickering and moving. I don’t know which cities we were flying by, but the sight of night city scene from the sky above, along with the encounter of a nice lady added the color to my trip, ending an otherwise tiring journey with some enlightenment.

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評論
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '天涼好秋' 的評論 : Thanks, Cool Autumn. While mine contains Cool Summer, I name your English name as Cool Autumn:)) I think I suggested something similar in WXC's anniversary contest to have an English version so that it could extend to our next generation. We will see. Thank you for your compliment!
天涼好秋 回複 悄悄話 I really like your English writing. I had been thinking if there should be an English version of Wenxue City.
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '夕陽影裏一歸舟' 的評論 : 歸舟妹妹好!謝謝你這麽仔細讀我的英文,最近小說看多了,哈哈:))看來文學城要刮起寫小說的旋風了:))歸舟妹妹要不要是下一個啊?期待喔!謝謝你對我寫英文的鼓勵,我們一起努力!周末好!
夕陽影裏一歸舟 回複 悄悄話 到第二段的第5、6行,我幾乎想說這個故事可以寫成小說:-)有潛質啊,試試?都是子喬惹的,赫赫。
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'ziqiao123' 的評論 : 剛剛從你家來,就看見你也剛剛來過,相信嗎,有時人與人的相互牽掛惦記就是幾乎同步的。同祝子喬中秋快樂,花好月圓!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'zhiyan' 的評論 : 不晚不晚,子燕,剛剛散步回來, 今晚沒有月亮, 今年我連月餅也沒買,你們的祝福就是我今年的中秋慶祝!也祝子喬中秋好!
ziqiao123 回複 悄悄話 暖冬中秋節快樂!
zhiyan 回複 悄悄話 喜歡你的故事。
雖然晚了,還是祝暖冬闔家節日快樂~
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'xiaxi' 的評論 : 謝謝遐西,你家的門最近一直關著,同祝中秋快樂!
xiaxi 回複 悄悄話 暖冬中秋快樂!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '水沫' 的評論 : 水沫好!今天上班很忙,剛剛才吃中飯,尚來不及細讀你的新帖。謝謝水沫的仔細和鼓勵,節日快樂!
水沫 回複 悄悄話 暖冬的英文好棒,祝闔家中秋快樂~
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'yy56' 的評論 : 謝謝聞香,祝聞香全家中秋快樂!
yy56 回複 悄悄話 中秋節快樂!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '土豆-禾苗' 的評論 : 哈哈,土豆幽默。祝土豆禾苗全家中秋快樂!
土豆-禾苗 回複 悄悄話 middle fall jie fast happy,:))
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '時隱時現' 的評論 : 時隱mm多日不見啦,太高興你來了,可惜這個中秋什麽也沒做,沒有月餅,給mm端杯清茶,以表謝意,謝謝你特意前來看我!文章沒時間不必看了,文章寫得退步了,可以寫的內容不多了。再次感謝mm,祝全家中秋快樂,健康平安!
時隱時現 回複 悄悄話 好久未見冬夏MM了。先祝MM全家中秋快樂!抽空再慢慢閱讀、學習
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '菲兒天地' 的評論 : 菲兒有心了,謝謝啦!你怎麽關門了?看到了一組你的照片,很時尚很精致漂亮的(菲兒細長的手指-指如削蔥根)。也祝菲兒中秋快樂了!
菲兒天地 回複 悄悄話 祝有才的暖冬中秋闔家快樂幸福!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '風清fq' 的評論 : Wow, I feel flattered abd exalted at your compliment. It is just a journal to record a seemingly trivial encounter, which occurs in our daily life. We are shaped by the world and people around us. Thank you, 風清, for stopping by and reading my post. Happy mid-Autumn!
風清fq 回複 悄悄話 It is a well-written story, and it certainly gives me great joy to read such precise, evocative and visually-charged sentences. Thank you for sharing your unique experience with us.
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '碧藍天' 的評論 : 謝謝藍mm美言,我這是練筆呢。祝藍mm中秋節快樂!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '康賽歐' 的評論 : 康康好!謝謝留言。歡迎來南加居住一陣,其實這裏除了房價高,其他生活開銷並不貴,也很方便。中秋快樂!
碧藍天 回複 悄悄話 寫得好細膩!讚這麽好的英文!佩服!
航空公司的福利真不錯!
康賽歐 回複 悄悄話 以前聽說過航空公司給的福利,對於喜歡旅遊的家庭挺不錯的。對我來說,坐飛機是件不舒服的事,所以不喜歡出門旅行,嗬嗬。。。
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '小溪姐姐' 的評論 : Sister Xiaoxi,thank you very much for listening to my singing. Nowadays few people will be interested in that, and I recorded for my own entertaining and to share in Wechat moments for my parents' sake. Also thank you for recommending Ms. Jiang's song. She is one of my favorite singers too. Her voice is very unique and sweet. Let's see if I can sing it:)). Many thanks again, Sister Xiaoxi!!
小溪姐姐 回複 悄悄話 回複 '暖冬cool夏' 的評論 : Thank you for your good words, this really makes my heart warm. I am very fortunate meeting you and other friends here. I really value your friendship, which is of great significance to me.
I combined Chinese and English in the first message, which may cause the problem to send the entire message.
小溪姐姐 回複 悄悄話 回複 '暖冬cool夏' 的評論 :I also listened to your song about 《Qinzhang Highland》several times. You have very sweet voice, deep understanding of the song and good sense of the rhythm of the music. I thought if you sing【The Father’s grassland and Mother’s river】,I bet you will sing very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shtojXCyhSw
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '小溪姐姐' 的評論 : Sister Xiaoxi, I guess a lot of people like me were actually saddened the other day a couple of months that you shut down your blog. I could have QQH-ed you privately, but I knew you simply needed a little bit time to think it through. We missed you, sister Xiaoxi, and I have been carrying hopes upon hopes that you won't be another 覺曉. I know you shouldn't and wouldn't . You prove me right today, and I was thrilled at seeing you back a couple of weeks ago. Look, how rejoicing we are at your return! Welcome back, sister Xiaoxi ! Let's move forward hand in hand in this virtual city, and live our days to the fullest.
Many thanks to you for dropping by and your great compliment. I am so appreciative of your kindness! Best regards to your husband, and have a great weekend!
小溪姐姐 回複 悄悄話 回複 '暖冬cool夏' 的評論 :真對不起,第一次發生的情況,留言不能完整發上來,發了三次,都是一樣。請刪除。剛把完整留言用悄悄話發給你了。
小溪姐姐 回複 悄悄話 Just dropped in to say Hi, I read your beautiful and well-written story, as always, I did enjoy and like it. I also listened to your song
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '思韻如藍' 的評論 : 思韻妹妹來了!謝謝你特意前來閱讀和誇讚,周末愉快!
思韻如藍 回複 悄悄話 跟豆豆的讀感一樣: 暖冬寫得平和溫暖,又栩栩如生。
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '菲兒天地' 的評論 : 菲兒好!是啊,我也準備明年過年回家,也是怕飛,尤其是一個人,真是累的,但是沒辦法,我有朋友在飛機上吃一顆安眠藥睡覺,不知道該不該效仿。謝謝菲兒臨博美言,希望你車禍後一切安好!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'xiaxi' 的評論 : 遐西周六好!改票一般是要收錢的,各個航空公司不同,除非你買了像保險一類的東西。謝謝遐西臨博誇讚!
菲兒天地 回複 悄悄話 回複 '過客手箋' 的評論 : +1暖冬寫得真好,把我乘飛機的感受都寫出來了,隻是我更加怕坐飛機,兩個小時就要開始不耐煩,領導說你中國怎麽飛的,聖誕怎麽辦?:)
xiaxi 回複 悄悄話 我改過機票,但不知cancel還要自己貼錢進去。
暖冬的英語真好!周末快樂!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '彩煙遊士' 的評論 : Hi, scholar! I was lucky to encounter a nice lady that day, buy if she was not friendly, obviously the conversation wouldn't continue. Thanks for stopping by every Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '過客手箋' 的評論 : Thanks, doudou, stopping by and your encouragement. Unlike many people like you, I am not a travel person. But travel does broaden our mind, and people we encounter add spices to it. Looking forward to more of your wonderful travel journals! Have a great weekend!
彩煙遊士 回複 悄悄話 Ladies only know how to talk:)

暖冬周末快樂!
過客手箋 回複 悄悄話 A heartwarming journal, precisely, vividly and romantically presented!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '每天一講' 的評論 : 一講好!Right, my curiosity got satisfied, and the seat got justied. Though I like it being spacious, at least it was not empty and wasted. Thanks for stopping by, and TGIF!
每天一講 回複 悄悄話 She told me she got it for free, as two of her daughters work for the airline.
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哈哈,finally after small talking, 暖冬,curiosity satisfied ? :))

good day :)
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '7grizzly' 的評論 : Right, how they view China (Hongkong in particular) in 19th century. I am at page 82 now. So far so good. Thanks again!
7grizzly 回複 悄悄話 回複 '暖冬cool夏' 的評論 : I was about to read more Clavell books and "Taipan" will be the next. Many Westerners learn about Japan through "Shogun." "Taipan" sure will show how they view China of the time.
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '7grizzly' 的評論 : Correction: same author "as" Shogun. I keep making small grammatical mistakes:)) Thank you for making me aware that it is "on" a plane,(like on a train, on a bus, on a boat, etc.) Happy Friday!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'Once-always' 的評論 : Oncemm好!不晚不晚,這本來就是練筆的短文,沒什麽要緊的,不讀也沒什麽。謝謝mm的惦記!說起這次的航班,因為我最初定的是來回,都不記得單程回程是多少錢,所以打電話問詢。當得知cancel的錢還貴一些時,我就不想cancel,可電話裏的服務員說,如果不能make it,最好cancel掉,可以把座位讓給有需要的人。我心想,誰讓你們不合理,讓我學雷鋒啊:))謝謝mm的中秋問候,同祝mm中秋快樂!
Once-always 回複 悄悄話 來晚了,今天才看到暖mm的小文,上班路上細細讀著,特別享受暖mm的文字,也讓我這一程縮短了呢。航空公司都玩這種貓膩啊,我前年回國因為要臨時改機票,也是花了雙倍的錢。你這下可是做了回密探,了解了很多內幕哦。昨晚給媽媽打電話才知道馬上要中秋節了,祝暖mm中秋快樂,花好月圓之夜,浪漫多多!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '7grizzly' 的評論 : Thank you, my friend, for your compliment! Curiosity kills the cat, and in my case, spurs the conversation. I normally don't talk to a stranger on an airplane either. You know what, I coincidentally bought a used book called Tai-pan from the library about a month ago, and then realized that it is the same author of Shogun a couple days ago. I am reading Tai-pan now when Shogun is in transit. Happy reading to you:))
7grizzly 回複 悄悄話 Well written and informative. You have the enviable knack of holding an interesting conversation. I don't remember when was the last time I chatted with someone on an airplane.
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'ARooibosTea' 的評論 : 茶妹好!你留過言的,多謝!Thank you for reading my English, and I appreciate your compliment. To keep up writing in English is not easy, and I sometimes have to push myself. Hopefully, constant practice will make my English writing better. Thank you so much for stopping by and your two comments!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'GraceX' 的評論 : Grace好!謝謝你每次仔細的閱讀和留言,你的美言我收下了,就當是鞭策自己繼續努力。是啊,這次的回程覺得特別累,可能是在女兒那裏累著了,想想明年還要回國真是有點怕的。航空公司的福利聽上去是不錯,想想也是,這座位浪費了多可惜。謝謝Grace,祝你周中好!
ARooibosTea 回複 悄悄話 暖冬,更正我的說法, 應該是讀你的英文散記是第一次。寫得真好!
ARooibosTea 回複 悄悄話 Dear Mrs. Cool Summer, Please allow me try my horrible English. Possible this is my first time to your blog, but I am failing in love with your writing right on. How delicate and exquisite prose you wrote!
GraceX 回複 悄悄話 暖冬好!一個很簡單的飛行,讓你描繪得有聲有色。一般超過一個半小時的飛行,總會讓我有些不舒服,尤其是邊上坐著陌生老外,擠在一起更難受,如果是老中也許會好很多,可以隨便聊。(^o^)/~不過,你也至少跟她聊了幾句,轉移了不少坐飛機的不適。你先生的飛機票被她占了,沒想到航空公司有這麽好的福利。像她那樣常飛,一年真可以省下不少錢了:)
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '迪兒' 的評論 : 迪兒好!國內航空也有這樣的待遇啊,看來現今的全球化真是到方方麵麵的。問候迪兒!
迪兒 回複 悄悄話 我的一個大學室友在南航工作,上次看她等票,也是要等到最後才知道結果。
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '寒一凡' 的評論 : 嗯,是的。謝謝一凡臨博鼓勵,祝新的一周一切安好!
寒一凡 回複 悄悄話 真有意思,航空公司的福利太好了!
暖冬的英文真棒!:)
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 '南山鬆' 的評論 : 鬆鬆好!是嘛,那確實不錯,隻是時間不好掌控些。最近一期的Fortune雜誌列舉了很多公司的員工福利,看看也挺有意思的。謝謝鬆鬆的信息,祝新周好!
南山鬆 回複 悄悄話 我兒子以前的一個朋友的媽媽在航空公司工作,她是做會計方麵的工作。她就常帶著他兒子免費坐飛機,就是要等哪架飛機有空位就上哪架。
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'ziqiao123' 的評論 : Thank you, Ziqiao, for your reading and comment. Thank you for pointing it out. I took it seriously, and showed the sentence to my husband to see his comment. He had the exact same reaction, stopping at "keeping changing". So it must be my bad in writing this way. But if you read on, you will find that "keeping changing" here is the subject of "only made it worse". Therefore, grammatically, it is correct. But maybe I shall write it in a different way to avoid confusion. Thanks again, Ziqiao, for your reading and encouragement. Have a nice new week!
ziqiao123 回複 悄悄話 I enjoyed reading your prose, so delightful. As the return, I nitpicked a typo in your article:
"I started to feel restless, and keeping changing"

哈哈,暖冬周日愉快!
暖冬cool夏 回複 悄悄話 回複 'yy56' 的評論 : 謝謝聞香來讀我的英文。是的,福利不錯,一星期好像也隻需完成幾次飛行就好了。祝聞香新一周快樂!
yy56 回複 悄悄話 真沒想到航空公司會有這麽好的福利。
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