Blech, nice to meet you

So as a general rule, I do not speak to people on public transportation- this includes airplanes. So, my flight to California for the Holidays started pretty much the same as all other flights- in silence. I was sitting in the window seat and a guy in his early 30's was in the center and a girl in her early 20's was on the aisle. I think we all had the same "silent on planes" rule since we all had our ipod's on- a sure message that you aren't interested in talking.

The flight was packed. I settled into my seat and went to sleep pretty much immediately. Something about being on a plane always makes me tired. I woke up a few hours later when the 2nd movie was starting- Stardust. I decided that I would watch it so I plugged my headphones in. I fell asleep again during the movie... and then awoke to the strong urge to throw up.

I reached into the seat pocket- and luckily there was an airsick bag (the last few flights I have been on, I have checked just for inventories sake- and there hasn't been one). I pulled it out and...errr... filled it. I know, TMI...but, I was really sick- and have been for the past 72 hours.

Anyway, I was able to get it all in the bag- thankfully...but practically throwing up on a complete stranger is really embarrassing. Luckily, Dan- my previously silent neighbor was totally nice about it and not the least bit grossed out. As I sat in my chair shaking and totally vomit-y he got up and got me tissues, a plastic bag to put my barf bag in and a glass of water.

When the shaking stopped and I felt like I could get up, I went to the bathroom to get a little more cleaned up (and actually got sick again). I asked the Flight Attendants what I should do with my bag of throw-up and they told met that I had to keep it with me. I told them that I didn't think that my neighbors would like that. Finally they let me throw it away in the bathroom garbage can as long as they didn't know about it.

I went back to my seat, and as it turns out- vomitting next to someone is a real conversation starter. Dan and I talked the remainder of the flight. I found out that he is a writer for the Wall Street Journal and he showed me his article that was published that day (he writes about foreign currency). Anyway, it ended up being a nice experience and maybe in the future I will talk to more people on flights.... hopefully not with the same conversation starter.