Red-Eye


This picture from 2018 popped up on my timeline today. We were leaving Hawaii and taking the red-eye from Honolulu to Houston.

I had already made up my mind to sleep on the way back. Having worked swing-shift nearly four decades, I’d learned to sleep whenever and wherever possible.

Upon entering the plane I grabbed a plastic bag with a blanket inside.

I found my seat, listened to the flight attendant’s instructions, and waited for takeoff. By the time we reached cruising altitude the Tylenol PM I’d taken was kicking in. Vaguely, I remember hearing some guy sneezing and hacking a few seats away.

With the seat tilted back I threw the blanket over my head and drifted off to sleep. No one disturbed the guy beneath the shroud. No inflight drinks or pretzels were offered.

My daughter was seated a row ahead of me and snapped this picture. Some claimed I snored. I don’t remember.

What I do remember about that flight is that I was one of the few in our group that didn’t catch what the guy had that was sneezing and hacking on the flight back. Others in my group did.

Fast forward to today. 2021. I’m not wearing a blanket any longer, but I am still wearing a mask out in public. Does it do any good? I can’t say for certain. However, I can say I haven’t been sick this past year. I may wear one from now on.

Those that laughed about me about hiding under a blanket on that red-eye a few years ago laugh no more. They are considering doing the same should they fly again.

Me? I’ll be taking along my own personal blanket. After all, I am a germaphobe. Plus, what old man in his right mind is going to turn down a nap.

Just leave the pretzels on my tray, please.

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Rick Algood
April 28, 2021

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