Thriving...in Spite of It

On a recent flight from Dallas to Houston I was seated at almost the very back of the plane. I remember when I was a seventh grader riding the bus how we would scramble for the fun bouncy back seats...bumpy rides aren't as much fun a plane. Enduring the airborne equivalent of a bull ride with a hot cup of coffee,  I was determine to stay my cheerful self, although my introverted tendencies are painfully challenged in such close quarters. I prefer to people-watch, instead of interacting... Long before the bull ride was over,  it was painfully obvious I would need to make myself comfortable for awhile, until the aisle cleared.  In the two seats next to me, a middle aged couple kept their seats, too, chatting intimately as they sipped the large sodas they had carried aboard. They seemed happily, equally oblivious to both the crowd and the wait...they were content in enjoying each other's company, savoring the moments they waited together. Respecting their privacy, I turned