The flight was over two hours late. Between the lounge and the table of food provided by the airline for all passengers on the flight, there had been plenty of time before the flight to eat. With a departure around 1.30 am, I hoped I could sleep. The example of the grandmother beside me as the example I needed. As the wheels came up I dozed off. All was well until 2.30 when a young flight attendant decided that I needed to eat.
With a gentle tug on my shoulder, “Would you like some dinner?”
My groggy “no thank-you” evidently was not the answer she was looking for.
“Ok, can you take your tray anyways? It would be easier to complete my service if you would hold it. I will be back later.”
Without waiting for my answer, she reached to turn the lever holding my tray table up. I caught the tray as it came loose, initially accepting the tray that was being played in front of me. In that moment, I remembered that I was the passenger. As if she wanted to make sure I was fully awake, she asked one more question.
“Can you adjust your seat so the passenger behind you can eat?” Without hesitating, she reached down to press the button on my seat and pull the seat forward.
I lost the plot. Everything screamed within me, “break the wicked right arms, break all the evil left arms. Search and destroy every sign of crime.” (Psalm 10.15) This was crazy! It was 2.30.
“Please, you take this tray.” Without hesitation, I gave her the tray with a clear indication I was letting go. I got up out of my seat, squeezed past her and headed for the galley in the rear of the plane. “Help me understand why it was necessary for me to be woken up at 2.30 in the morning!”
This night, frustration triumphed. I wondered if there was a different response? I do not know. I was not able to sleep again. There must be a better way.
