This story is hard to write, and it's been hard for me to process.
My flight from San Jose to LAX was delayed when a woman directly behind me refused to store her purse underneath the seat. A flight attendant asked if she needed assistance storing the bag.
"I'll keep it around my neck," the woman said.
The flight attendant explained that federal regulations require bags to be stored under the seat or in the overhead compartment for takeoff and landing.
"You're not getting this from me!"
The flight attendant calmly explained the rule again and asked if she could store the purse overhead.
"Leave me alone! You've been rude to me since I got on this flight!"
Undaunted, the flight attendant made a quick call on a wall phone and returned to the woman's seat.
"Ma'am. We want you to get to your destination on time. If you do not store your bag, then we will put you on the next flight. Would you like to take the next flight?"
"You have all been rude since I got on here. That woman at the front threw my bag at me!"
"Ma'am, we will have to place you on another flight."
The woman then opened a container of something, and promptly spilled the contents all over her feet. It sounded like a thousand marbles rolling around the floor.
The flight attendant remained calm and said, "Ma'am, you've dropped your things. May I help you pick them up?"
I could hear the woman shifting in her seat. She sighed loudly, cleared her throat, and said, "I'm a 91-year -old n*****. Leave me alone right now!"
Our section of the plane fell into silence. Nobody knew what to do or say. The flight attendant finally said, "Please excuse me."
I felt very sad for this passenger. Why on Earth would she call herself the N word? But then I thought...
I don't know her, and I don't know her experiences. She has lived through and seen so much that I will never encounter nor truly understand. Her life is vastly different from mine. Plus, she's up in age and needs assistance, not admonishment.
But still...
You're holding up the ENTIRE PLANE! And rude? YOU are rude, ma'am! YOU are delaying this flight!
I slowly turned to look at her. She was petite and poised — nicely dressed with a large, floppy black hat. As I turned back around, she kicked my seat.
No one came back to speak with her, and we were suddenly cleared for takeoff. As the plane picked up speed, I heard her say, "Well, that's more like it."
The only sound she made on the remainder of the flight was a loud huff, followed by what is inarguably the greatest line I've ever heard spoken on a plane.
On this topic, she and I totally agree.
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