Flying- apparently it's considered a right

I like to consider myself a pretty polite girl. I say please and thank you, sir and ma'am. I say bless you when people sneeze. I let other drivers out in front of me (sometimes, when they haven't pissed me off). I cover my mouth when I yawn and my nose when I sneeze. It's probably because my mama raised me right. You just do these things. Especially in the South.

The South is such a magical place. The men stand when a lady leaves from, or returns to, the table. The men hold the door open for you. I remember my freshman year at Davidson, a campus FRAUGHT with Southern gentlemen (and also some of those Yankees). One of the girls on my hall was from Connecticut, you know, right outside of The City. Anyway, we were headed to the dining hall one night. Coming towards us was part of the football team. As the first Southern boy held open one door for us, Hallmate headed straight for the other to open it for herself. The rest of the team laughed at him as I walked through the door he still held open. She's a Yankee was all I could offer up as an explanation.

I like to think the South I was raised in is how normal people act. But every time I travel, I realize it is not. People can be the rudest when they are traveling. In the past four months, I've flown on three different trips. Which is definitely way above my average. It astonishes me that people do not recognize proper flight etiquette. For example, if you are sitting next to someone who is not in your traveling party, do not hog the arm rest. There is only one for the both of you to use. Share it. Leaving the plane should not be a free-for-all. I am in just as much of a hurry to get to my next gate as you are. If you are 12 rows behind me, wait your turn. Do not barrel down the aisle like a thoroughbred at Churchill Downs. And please refrain from hitting me in the arm/head/back with your over sized "carry-on." I get that with this new charge to check luggage, people don't want to spend extra if they can avoid it. But seriously folks, a suitcase the size of a 6 year old is NOT carry-on. Also, when you are walking to your next gate, realize that there are other people walking behind you. Keep with the flow folks. Don't just stop, mid-walk, and allow people to bump into you. Because if you are then going to turn around and be mad at me for running into you, we might have words. And believe me, they will not be words you want to hear.

On a plus note, when you somehow luck into a seat all by your lonesome at the very front of the plane. Or have a perfectly pleasant seatmate. Well, airline travel sometimes isn't all that bad.....