sleeping on a plane

By David Geiger, October 30, 2019

Not too long ago, on a long international flight, I was placed in a seat on the interior of the plane, in a section with about 6 seats in a row before the aisle on each side.  Then 2 or 3 more seats on each side across the aisles. Our carry on luggage was all in bins over our heads and each had a small space under the seat in front. Mine was full of flight stuff – a pillow, blanket, and eye cover to help me get through 18 hours in the air.

There were 4 meals planned on this flight with plenty of time for sleep or work or movies in between.  The plane was headed to Shanghai and most of the passengers were Chinese. Maybe all but me and 5 or 6 others. At any rate, a young lady, perhaps 28 or 30, sat down in the seat next to me.  She was a beautiful Chinese woman with warm eyes and a kind smile. Each of us had two seats outside of ours just to get to the aisle. I don’t remember who sat in the other seats. I remember they were Chinese.

Next came lots of time spent watching movies and typing on phones and tablets and macs. Then a movie. Then more time on the mac. Then a meal. Still I had not spoken with anyone. Everyone around me spoke Chinese into their phones…or to fellow travelers…when they spoke.

Around hour 10 I got my blanket and pillow out, as did most people, and started to fall asleep. As always with people so close I was careful to stay in the center of my seat. Usually my fingers hurt for several days after a flight like this because I interlock my fingers in front of me trying to stay centered in my chair.

I remember thinking back to my first flight to China and how I had met Robert from HP on the plane.  We talked almost all night.  It was fantastic as he was full of information that would help me make my way through China. At the time, I was very worried about my decision to go, and his advice really calmed me down.

This time I was going with very little worry. Feeling lots of excitement and anticipation, but not worry. So I was relaxed and fell asleep quickly.

Several hours later, barely coming out of a deep sleep, I became aware that someone had their arms wrapped around my left arm, head resting on my shoulder. She was sound asleep. Ok, much worse things could happen to me, and maybe its just a dream, so I drifted back to sleep.

Some time later I woke up, just slightly, and things had not changed. I moved a little thinking it would wake her and we might break apart. It did wake her enough to open her eyes. She looked right in my eyes, gave me a big, beautiful smile, hugged my arm even tighter, put her head against my shoulder, and went back to sleep.

Ok, she definitely seems to be aware now, but possibly not fully conscious, so there’s that. Yes, of course I smiled a warm smile too. In that moment it was the only thing to do. Our faces only a few inches apart, in a fog of travel and sleep and whatever extra deprivation might be provided by being 40,000 feet in the air in a human transportation device, its not like my mind was functioning properly. I was totally confused, but not unhappy in any particular way. I just went to sleep again, dreaming about my trip.

When I wake up again, I could smell food and hear a few voices.

A meal was being served.

Ninety minutes to Shanghai.

Not another word spoken.