Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Travel Funnies

Seriously??

The picture is blurry but you'll still get the gist of things...

Yesterday I posted something about travel, and someone said they didn't care for airports much, but that wouldn't stop them from traveling. It's not my favorite part of the trip, but usually things go pretty well. We have, however, had a few things happen.




In Germany a police officer deliberately sent his drug-sniffing dog over to my teen boy to sniff his luggage while we were walking in the airport. My son was mortified/outraged at the stereotype, and I was dying laughing. I still laugh if I think about it.

In one country the police in the airport had guns, very unsettlingly large guns, that they carried around like military.

My daughter has been singled out for a pat-down 70% of the time since she was like 12 (I'm not kidding, it's a standing family joke, but we do find it a tad ridiculous).

On our last international flight there was a child in front of us (one of two in his family), and half way through the long trip, he discovered my son directly behind him. He would lean over, touch my son's Kindle screen to 'help him play,' try to take his stickers, which my son was willing to share anyway, and various things like that... even when it was dinner time (ew, no germs around my boy's food, please), the mom let her son hang way over the seats (see very first picture of this post). I told the boy it was 'time to turn around now' a couple of times when we needed a little peace. Invariably he'd come back, which was okay for my son (he enjoyed the company), and okay for us a little, but still there was the, "Hello, are you even paying attention to your child???" thing going through my mind.

Eventually, when the plane landed, the child was leaning so far over the seat to try to get something of ours that he fell over. A complete, over-the-top-of-the-seat, half-somersault fall. We were standing, collecting our things, and his fall knocked my entire seat cushion off. I bent down to pick the child up. He thankfully wasn't hurt but my arm and hand got pretty scraped up from the exposed seat.  I handed the mom her child, and she STILL didn't say anything, just took her boy and started collecting their things. All I could do was think, 'Geeez.'

Anyone else have airport/plane stories to share? Or find it ludicrous that a parent would let their child hang over a seat like that on an airplane? No judgement, but as for me, I would never...

95 comments:

  1. That mother so would have heard something from me and you truly are a better person then I am Rosey. What nerve. But on the stories of airport tales, my husband on our honeymoon was actually detained before getting on our flight home. They finally let him go, but to know my husband he is very pale, ruddy tall Irish guy. So all he could up with was that he looked like a possible IRA troublemaker. But we never did find out, but he still jokes about this!

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    1. I can't believe they never told your husband why they held him. I'm sure it was a little unnerving!

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  2. I've been on quiet planes and noisy planes, but nothing has ever happened that would be worth telling.

    Have a terrific day. ☺

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  3. Wow .. patting down a 12 year old girl? That seems a bit much. Are you training a CIA op over there Rosey?

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    Raising-Reagan.com

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    1. Maybe that extra earring hole she had put in her ear makes her look dangerous. ;)

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  4. I know what you mean! Those were funny stories girl - you have traveled a lot!

    I guess the time we went to CA - I had both the kids sitting with me - I was in the middle. They both spilled cokes - on me - I was sitting in wet coke the whole trip!

    Sandie

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    1. gah!! I always worry about the drinks in those little cups getting spilled!

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  5. I have read that they've even patted down elderly women in wheelchairs too. Crazy!

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    1. Some of those elderly folks can be downright dangerous, Keith. buwahahaha

      Actually it's probably VERY unsettling for some elderly people to get patted down. I'm thinking of my grandfather. He didn't fly, but I'm guessing if he did and got patted down he'd have been kicked out of line anyway for causing a scene. Just a wild guess. ;)

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  6. Wow what a ummm dunce of a mother. Who does that? Sniffed by a butt sniffer hahaha kinda funny

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    1. The dog story is one of my highlight airport moments. That particular son doesn't find the story amusing. :)

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  7. I'm playing catch up today - just stopped in to say hello!

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  8. If my boys so much as turn around for more than three seconds, I would ask them to stop let alone hang over the seat like that.....NEVER. That is not acceptable behavior under any circumstances.

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    1. I wouldn't let my son do it. He's old enough now to know better than to even try.

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  9. Ok tell me what photo bombing is? You hearted him out so good I couldn't figure it out. How long was the flight Rosey? You had a lot of patience there. Of course I the first one to never say anything and write about it later. I did write about the time Christopher saw someone looking at a picture of a naked girl. He didn't tell me until we were back home like it was bothering his 5 year old conscience. I think security would have been waiting for me at the gate if I had known what Christopher was gawking at between the seats.

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    1. I remember that post. :)

      That was a 10-hour flight we were on in that picture, so we got well-acquainted with that child.

      Photo bombing was my husband intentionally making an "OH MY GOODNESS THAT CHILD IS HANGING OVER THE SEAT!" face with his eyes totally bugged out of his head. He's a joker like that... ;)

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  10. That mother needs a lesson in how to look after her child.... wow....!!!

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    1. Her other child was perfectly behaved, lol.

      Maybe she was relieved her child found something to occupy him (us), haha. Still...

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  11. Travel funnies or annoyances. I guess it's all in how you take it.

    Fortunately, I haven't been on a plane since 1998. I'm content to listen to Sylvia's tales of air travel.

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    1. We've got some doozies to tell too, that's for sure. But I don't mind (usually) because it means we're on our way somewhere, woot! :)

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  12. I don't think I would have been as patient with that "mother" I would have gave her a piece of my mind. all those experiences in airports...I would lose my mind. I remember when Dino was a year old they wanted to check his shoes. I was like are you serious...what sick parent would hide drugs in their kids shoes...but I guess they have seen it all.

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    1. I had to drink from my son's bottle once to let him keep it. I was thinking, really??? Like I'd let my son drink something bad???? I thought that was an odd request, but there is a liquid rule and I hadn't thought of the bottle.

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  13. Wow! I can't believe she let her kid do that. I mean even if she is a mom who let's him do that at home or whatever, have some respect for other people! And that is hilarious about your son's reaction.

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    1. Manners do seem to elude some people. They probably think we're 'stodgy' or 'boring' parents. ;)

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  14. i used to travel all the time...worst trip ever was into birmingham in the middle of a wicked storm...this one beligerant guy refused to fasten his seatbelt and stay in his seat....then we hit and air pocket and he hit the ceiling...it was terribly humorous...but he wore his seat belt the rest of the way in...

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    1. Sometimes that's all it takes. LOL that you laughed at him!

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  15. Oh my gosh! I do find it ludicrous that a parent would let her child hang over the seat like that. It's dangerous! I haven't flown too much, but flying with kids really scares the heck out of me haha.

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    1. Flying WITHOUT them would scare me, I'd be worried about them all of the time. I want them close by.

      And yep, it was dangerous. Her child fell right over, but you know, come to think of it the boy didn't seem out of sorts over the fall either...maybe it's a common thing for him, lol

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  16. We haven't traveled enough to have any good stories. I agree with you on the little boy though. Seems like he was doing it way too much and the parents should have paid closer attention to him. Personally, my kids wouldn't have been allowed to do that.

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    1. Mine either. I thought my son was going to ask why he was allowed to do that, but he never did. I think he liked the little person company. ;)

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  17. I once was on a flight where a woman who didn't speak englush kept gesturing that she wanted me to feed her. I did not lol.

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    1. hahahahhahaahaha

      I would have feigned language barrier too!!!

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  18. My daughter got the pat down too when we went to the airport. Something about funny looking buttons on her pockets? They looked like regular buttons to me!

    I was shhh'ing my youngest on her first plane ride that terrified her and made her cry. I was worried about being the mom that let her kid cry on the plane. I would be really upset with her if she kept turning around bothering the other passengers. Some parents just don't have a clue.

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    1. It's kind of annoying when they pat down the tweens/teens. It's obvious their threat potential is next to zero. Wonder why they do that... there must be a viable reason.

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  19. Umm. Yes. That child hanging over the seat and the mom not caring one bit is insane. How rude of her to not take into consideration that her son might have been bothering you guys. If anything we are the total opposite and would keep a very short rein on our kids...maybe that's why we didn't fly when they were little. No incidents for us like that at the airport, then again, we are not frequent fliers.

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    1. Not even when the child fell, Kristi. THAT would have been a wake-up point for most people, I think, but no one in their crew (not even the child) blinked an eye over it.

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    1. I know, lol. Thank goodness that child didn't get hurt when he fell.

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  21. Ugh, I would be so annoyed with that child's mother! mean once or twice maybe but the entire trip?

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    1. Exactly, Henrietta! IT wasn't the child that bothered me, it was the mom I was slightly annoyed with (especially when we were trying to eat and he was trying to put his hands in my son's food, ugh). He was like 3? What did he know? Mom knew though.

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  22. OMG I can't believe that mother let her child do that on the airplane! That's nuts! You must have the patience of a saint to have put up with that, Rosey. I don't fly anymore so I guess I'm missing out on these other funny experiences.

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    1. We've got some doozies, but my post was long enough. ;)

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  23. um, yeah that's crazy. I would have been really annoyed. once on a plane trip there was a couple who I'm pretty sure was watching porn or something! also the girl was sitting with her head on the seat and her legs against the back of the chair in front of her. it was very strange.

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    1. If we have these stories, I can just imagine what stewardess personnel have to recount. I'm supposing their job is one that is always interesting. ;)

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  24. I dread it when we are on a plane with some kids... Hate the screamers and the ones that won't stop pullin gon my seat. UGH!! That is one reason why I don't fly very far...

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    1. I get a little annoyed when parents ignore behavior they shouldn't. The kids don't know, the parents do.

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  25. I always get so mad when my boys kick on the seat in front of them. They also like to stand on their seat and stare the person sit behind them X_X' Really...even myself is so annoyed with my boys behavior ha ha...But don't worry, if you ever be in the same flight with me and my little rascals, I always make sure they are on their best behavior even if they try (oh they do) to get away with things :D

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    1. I'm not easily bothered but this particular lady was just totally intentionally detached. I thought it was odd. It surprised me, for sure.

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  26. It sounds like you've had some crazy experiences. I've only flown a handful of times.

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    1. We've had annoying things happen too, like an airline going on strike while we were waiting to fly home, lol

      THAT time hubby and I did get a bit grouchy w/one another until the situation was resolved because we were both on edge.

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  27. I guess you were lucky the mother didn't start bawling you out! Some people! I hate the transit part of travel too!

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    1. That would have been the cherry on the cake, lol

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  28. I always got pat downed when I was younger too :) I think they age profile. I traveled a lot by myself when I was younger, so most of my stories have to do with overly friendly seat mates!

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    1. It's kind of annoying that she gets singled out so often, you could be right about the age profiling.

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  29. What the??? What kind of parent just lets their child loose on other passengers. I get that he's a kid doing what a kid does but that's when we have to be parents and do what parents do. Plus, he could have been seriously hurt. And she had NO words. Crazy!

    I have no travel stories to compete with that. lol

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    1. Not a word. Maybe he falls on people all of the time, lol No one seemed phased by the fall but me, not even the sweet child.

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  30. I want to travel with your family! You guys sound like you take it all in stride! I've had some very similar stories to yours: large guns, strip searches (almost) and pill bottles exploding when my makeup bag was dumped out (right after 9/11). The trip always makes the annoying airport worth the trouble!

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    1. I agree it's hard to get annoyed when you're going to, or coming from a nice trip. :)

      LOL, I shouldn't laugh about the pill bottle, but I did.

      My last trip I had a bunch of receipts and some kid toys in my purse. It was a short flight (2 hours) on a little plane and it briefly crossed my mind that I should clean the purse up. 'Eh, they're not going to search it anyway.'

      Of course they did because I forgot to take my little Febreeze bottle out. The guy opened my purse and said, "I'll try not to be careful to mess anything up in here, seeing as how it's so organized,"

      hahahahha

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  31. The dog story is funny. Too many of those loose kids on airplanes as well

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    1. Children don't bother me on the planes, not even when they're being rambunctious, crying, or whatever (I'm guessing their poor little ears hurt when they're crying).

      When they're allowed to do any and everything though, I do sometimes wonder what the parents are thinking.

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  32. I hate when parents ignore bad behaviour, irks me to no end! I would not have handled it as graciously as you did!
    I almost always get "randomly selected" for the pat down too!

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    1. It's happened to me twice ever, it happens to my daughter all of the time.

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  33. My craziest experience? There was this huge drunk middle-aged man who was causing quite a commotion when he staggered down the aisle and stripped off his clothes! The flight crew had a tough time trying to get him back to his seat and put his clothes on!

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    1. gah, I'd have wanted him off of the plane, eesh.

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  34. My one and only trip was when the three older ones were little Elizabeth was only a few weeks old, I she slept all the way from Melbourne to Sydney and when I got off the plane I made a smart alec comment to a woman who made sure she said how annoying it was to have to fly on a plane with kids, all of mine were quiet especially the sleeping baby. I said I hope my sleeping baby didn't ruin your flight. she looked away LOL

    Seriously we pay for tickets too but I do get that some parents don't keep their kids in line, how annoying, what a rude woman to not even have asked if you were okay.

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    1. buwahahhahaha

      I read once that they were going to make childless flights. How dumb. I hope that's not true.

      How rude she didn't ask if her kid was okay, lolol Maybe her boy will grow up to be a stuntman. ;)

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  35. We don't travel by plane often but do have some crazy car travel stories most accidents that weren't ever our fault. I do find it crazy that some parents just don't pay attention to their children or just don't care. Glad he was okay though.

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    1. He wasn't even phased.

      Car accidents scare me, Nichol. Flights don't scare me, driving does because when we do (on long trips) we ALWAYS come across bad accidents. I hate it.

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  36. I haven't had any travel experiences but have only flown two times in my life that was in 2011. Once to NYC and once to NC. I have heard horror stories about woman and children being all pat down and such, sad. Crazy.

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    1. I understand and appreciate security. Seems it's a little misdirected sometimes though.

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  37. That is ridiculous that a parent would allow their child to do that. What else do they allow?

    And I'm so sorry but I'm laughing so hard because the kid fell over and I'd have liked to see how that happened.
    I'm not bad, it just happens.
    I'm glad he wasn't hurt though.
    You can tell that this child might not learn much about boundaries eh.

    Very interesting stories you have Rosey. :)

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    1. She didn't even care he fell, Colette. Geez. He's going to grow up to be a tough one, I'm sure of it. ;)

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  38. Definitely a fun trip, loving photo!

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  39. I think I'd look at that kid's mom and give her the...ddo you see what your kid's doing? look. Ohhhhh....there's a reason I fear airplane travel with my kids...like the flight to Hawaii with my 18 month old, the 5 hours of screaming, followed by getting puked on...Then the other flight, and my 5 year old puking on me...followed by, well, I think I've only taken them on two flights, but two out of two times=puke so, I think I better start dosing them with dramamine and plan a vacation. :)

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    1. I did get out of this that you've been to Hawaii. Lucky! :)

      Oh no, though, to your little ones. I always feel bad when the little ones are sick or are crying for any length of time. I'm supposing their little ears must hurt (gah, I've flown with a cold and that was awful on MY ears and I'm grown). :(

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  40. I think it's awesome that you have such a sense of humor about all of your travel adventures. My 2-year old daughter was "wanded" once (standing with legs apart and arms straight out to the side while they scanned her with a metal-detecting wand). Not sure what type of terrorism they thought she was capable of.

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    1. You just never know what's lurking in a 2-yr. old's diaper. It can sometimes be dangerous. ;)

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  41. They always pull me over for a special search, right next to the guy who looks like he really needs a search, because I look totally opposite, and they won't get hit for profiling;) That's my theory anyway. If you stay extra nice, helpful and friendly, they quickly let you go.

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    1. I suppose it's a tough job to know who to single out, but really some of the choices they make seem silly.

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  42. I seriously dislike the whole airport - airplane thing. Once when the airline seemed to think it was cool to scatter my family around the plane, my 10 year old daughter sat next a woman who took her muffin right off her plate - sheesh - some people amaze me.

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    1. I hate when they separate families, we had a flight where they split us all up and wanted the 5yr old to sit w/strangers (and I'd called ahead to make sure we were together because selecting seats online wasn't available). The ticket gal was so mad at me that I wouldn't sit apart from my youngest, and I wasn't a bit rude. I wrote to everyone I know to try and get someone on my side about changing such policies, but canned responses were all I got. No one cared, really. I won't fly that airline again, but what do they care? We're just one family of many.

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  43. I probably would have left the kid and told her mom, "Your child just fell..." :P Wow, you really have quite some material for travel follies. I think the biggest one for us was when my daughter was still in a baby stroller and we stopped in one area get all our stuff situated. Unfortunately, that was the one area you're not supposed to stop in and all kinds of alarms went off!

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    1. Buahhahahhaahaa, I know I shouldn't laugh, and it probably wasn't funny at the time...I can soooo see our family doing something like that though.


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  44. yeah, i would have totally said something... but then again, i have a big mouth at times..

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    1. It's pretty amazing/amusing to me that she was so lax in watching him, but I guess she thought if he was occupied, so be it? He was pretty young for such a long flight. No excuse ... I know, but just thinking ... :)

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  45. I would've had to have said something. It's cool that your son wanted to share, not cool that mom wasn't paying attention to her child.

    One trip we were flying across country and my son was just a little to short to have his feet hang comfortable. So, he used the seat in front of him to push himself back up. I told him that it was not ok, as the guy in front us gave us the "evil eye". Then, every time someone walked down the plane and his seat shook, he assumed it was my SON! He kept looking back at us, but I couldn't apologize for something that wasn't our fault. My hand was on my son's legs the entire time from the first incident, so I know he wasn't the culprit. Eventually he told the stewardess who in turn told us, that the guy was a jerk and to ignore him! LOL! I still felt bad and ended up switching seats. Amazingly he didn't feel anyone else walk down the aisle!

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    1. You're a considerate traveler! Not everyone is. ;)

      Some people get on a plane looking to be grouchy.
      I'd have been relieved to move away from the grouchy guy.

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  46. I'm glad you have a sense of humor. I'm getting a chuckle out of these stories, but not everyone would be able to shrug it off. It is a good thing because you could let everything get to you that you can't really control and take a lot of joy out of being able to go places.

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    1. I could live w/o the patting down thing so often for my daughter, but most things do roll right off, and I know we're lucky they do.

      Thank you for the visit!

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  47. my travels are so boring I am glad of it though. :)

    knickgirl_3 at yahoo dot com

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    1. I wish I was traveling right now. I get antsy when there's no definite plans for a trip in the works (which there's not right this second). :)

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