Tears on a Plane

So, I recently flew home from Kenya. It takes 24 hours from Nairobi to Chicago, so needless to say I always dread my flights abroad...especially when I'm flying them alone. One of the great features is the individual television screen that offers a large selection of new release movies and television shows.

I had completed the first leg of my return flight (Nairobi to London). After a 7-hour layover in the London Heathrow Airport, I boarded my second flight home to O'Hare. The flights home are difficult for me for many reasons:
1) The change in time zones really throws my body out of whack. I'm completely exhausted and it is difficult to sleep sitting upright.
2) Flying makes me cranky. It is so hard to sit in one place for so long.
3) I've just said goodbye to Rosa (again) and my mind begins to wander back to last July and the failed adoption.

Needless to say, I look forward to watching several movies to get my mind off of these things.

I found my seat...in the bulkhead...in the aisle. Perfect. I would have plenty of room to move. The flight attendants eventually began their familiar spiel on nearest exits, flotation devices, yada...yada...yada. Most of these procedures were demonstrated on our personalized television screens. Mine suddenly went blank.

I informed the flight attendant of my malfunctioning screen before take-off and he said he'd take care of it right away. The head flight attendant reset the entire screen, but still no luck. He tried again. Nothing.

Two hours later, the head flight attendant came by. He explained that they had tried everything and, for some reason, I had a dysfunctional system. He apologized and offered me some magazines.

Within seconds of him walking away, uncontrollable tears fell from my eyes. I wasn't even really sure why I was crying, but I figured it had to be because this was "the straw that broke the camel's back." I wanted to keep my mind off things and now I had 8 1/2 hours of sitting and thinking ahead of me. Complete torture.

My flight attendant approached me and asked if someone had been by to explain what had happened. I nodded my head and said, "I understand. It is difficult to have any control over technological problems." He asked, "Are you crying? Are you all right?"

Oh my gosh. I was so embarrassed. "Follow me." I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go, but I thoughtlessly followed my new friend to the galley of the plane. He unfolded his special flight attendant seat and directed me to sit down. "Now, what can I get you? Chocolate? Coffee? Tea? How about a bottle of water?" I declined his offer, but I was given water anyway. He sat down next to me and asked, "Tell me what's wrong. Is it the television? I'm so sorry about that!"

The tears started flowing! Have you ever cried and wanted to stop so badly, but you weren't able to? I explained to him how I had left my daughter in Nairobi. He asked all about her and told me of his frequent flights to Nairobi, hoping that would offer me some peace. "My name is Arwon. If you need anything, let me know!"

I returned to my seat and attempted to look at borrowed fashion magazines for the next eight hours. Arwon continually checked on me to make sure I was OK (and not crying). It was nice to know I had someone looking out for me with a shoulder to cry on...literally!