I travel a lot. So much- that the flight attendants are beginning to recognize me. Yes, that’s me…I was on your flight to Norfolk two weeks ago!

I am anxiously waiting the day when I board a plane to go to a remote tropical island. Anyone interested in setting that up? I’m all ears.

Okay, back to the story. The other night I was on a plane after one of the toughest weeks that I have had in my life. I was mentally and physically exhausted.

I sat there in the back of the plane looking out the window thinking about the past week, my future and for the first time in a while I did a little bit of praying. 

After that, I began to look around the plane. I couldn’t help but think about all of these passengers sitting there. What are they traveling for? Where are they going? What is going through their minds?

Maybe- some were excited to attend a wedding, while others are going home to bury their parent. I couldn’t help but want to know- what is their story?

The journalist in me would have loved to have interviewed everyone on that small American Airlines plane. I wanted to know everything about them? They are all traveling to a place for a specific reason. Maybe the man next to me is about to propose to his girlfriend, or the woman in front of me is about to tell her husband that they are having a baby, or the teenage girl behind me is going to interview at her dream college. So many stories!

Traveling is such an emotional and exhausting experience. When you’re excited to get somewhere it feels like it can take forever and you just want to get off the plane. When you are sad or grieving you feel like it takes forever and you just want to get off that plane.

I’m pretty much interested in hearing about why all of these 70 people are flying with me. But many of you probably don’t care much about that. What you may care about is why the person next to you who decided that eating a taco at 6 am thinks it’s a good idea. And let’s talk about that. Why do they think that eating a burrito or taco on any flight is a good idea? Stick to plane snacks, like chips and granola bars. That’s the rule.

I honestly think I could write a whole blog on that. In fact, yes, let’s to that. I want to your crazy stories about being on an airplane. From the passengers and crew to the well anything…let me know. I’ll share them along with my funny stories. And boy, do I have stories!

Okay, back to this story. I just find it fascinating to be on a plane or even in a room with strangers. You never know what they have gone through or the knowledge they have to share. I swear every time I have a conversation with a complete stranger they have similarities to me. Whether they were in love with a veteran, had three children or had family in New England or Virginia. It really is bizarre. Has that ever happened to you?

As I sit here in the airport delayed, yet again I just feel compelled to share my story about the unknown stories of the passengers. Maybe you can relate to it. If not, I am certain that you can relate to the 6 am taco.

So cheers to those who have to travel for work or love. Cheers to the pilots and flight attendants who keep us safe. And cheers to those who stick to the rules and bring non-smelly plane snacks on board.

I’d love to hear your travel stories. Please comment and share!