Despite believing that I am, for the most part, a kind person, it does’t take much to annoy me. I know that it says more about me that it does about anyone else and I’m disappointed that I am not more tolerant. What can I say? I’m working on it. Here are just some of the situations that have set me off recently. And just so you know, it’s not me, it’s everyone else.
An American in Italy
The loud American tourist had the audacity to direct the Italian driver down a road that he didn’t want to go down. We were in Sorrento, the driver knew where he was going, but the American didn’t care about that. He gave further direction to park in a side street, pointed to the people we were picking up and told the driver, in his Boston drawl, “wait here, let them walk a few steps.”
The Italian decided to drive down to collect his passengers, as was his job. “This is insane,” the American wasn’t happy at being ignored.
It was only 7.30 in the morning, there roads were empty and we were in no rush.
The new passengers did make their way to the vehicle as soon as they realised it was their ride. “Oh now they decide to walk,” came the American’s response.
“Do you wanna drive?” his girlfriend asked. Although she had her back to me, I sensed that she was rolling her eyes.
The driver reversed into the same side street that the American had initially indicated. “That’s it,” he praised, leaning forward so that he could get a better view.
A mother and her teenage son got into the minibus, but not before the American got out so that he could decide which seat would be best for his bad back.
Hands on hips, stretching and twisting, he chose the front seat, leaving his girlfriend alone in the back. “It’s you and me now buddy,” he told the driver.
My husband and I communicated our thoughts through raised eyebrows and silent smirks. We never said anything out loud though, after all, we are British. And the American couple didn’t spoil too much of our excursion. They’d joined a walking tour of Pompeii and Vesuvius with a bad back (him) and wearing a dress and impractical sandals (her). I was secretly delighted when they had to make their own way back to Sorrento in the heat of the midday sun.
I’m not very spiritual am I?
PDA on a plane, no…
We were belted into those tiny airplane seats and the wheels hadn’t even left the tarmac when the noises began. The slurping and giggling from the couple sitting in front of me. At first, the constant PDA seemed sweet. Maybe they were newlyweds, or youngsters on their first holiday together? It soon became tiresome. They weren’t newlyweds (no rings), nor were they young. They were just a normal looking couple who couldn’t prise their lips apart. Somehow, that made it all the more inappropriate. Despite my silent disapproval, the snogging persisted for the whole flight.
I was so glad when we arrived in Budapest and had forgotten all about the amorous couple by the end of my short break. Until, strapped back into those seats for the return journey, the noises resumed. This time they were sat behind me. It was earphones in, eyes closed and deep breathes for the duration of the flight.
Travel etiquette
As a plane comes into land I can feel my anxiety rising. Not because I’m worried about a bumpy landing but because I know that as soon as the wheels touch the group, people will be out of their seats and lining the aisle. Why? Where do they think they’re going to go? Why does it bother me so much?
Once when my daughter was young, I had to take her to the bathroom before we exited the plane. You should have seen the looks I got as I squeezed through the throng of people who were going nowhere. I used my daughter as a shield and then laughed to myself as I exited the aircraft first.
Now, I purposely remain seated until I see people disembarking, then before anyone can pass me, I make a big show of blocking the aisle and letting everyone in front of me get off first.
And what is it with British people crowding the baggage belt before the luggage has even left the plane? Don’t they know that the yellow line is there for a reason? I huff and puff and make a great show of moving people out of my way as I hoick my case off the belt. If I take a couple of people out with my bag in the process, so be it.
Did I tell you how spiritual I am?
There’s so much more
There is so much more that annoys me. People who monopolise a conversation or who speak to loud. Those who don’t follow rules. Injustice of any kind. Queue jumpers. Litterers. People who don’t agree with my opinion. American politics
I’d like to think that it’s not me, it’s everyone else, but I know that’s not true. I have this vision in my head of how I see myself, mature, tolerant, easy going; but that is quickly replaced by a red mist at any given moment. I long for the day when none of this stuff even registers. When I am consistently calm, kind and compassionate. But, there’s a lot to work on. It might take some time.
