Monday, July 22, 2024

7月20日(土曜日)2024
 飛行機の長旅で私が一番に願うのは食事や機内サービスではなく満席でないこと。友人や家族と一緒なら隣同士で楽しいが、エコノミークラスで単独旅なら願わくは隣は空席、それが無理ならマナーが良い人を希望します。ですが今回はそれが残念なことに。


 満席で私の隣は大柄の若いアメリカ人の男性。さぞ窮屈だろうとは思いながらも、両者の間にあるアームレストには早々と彼の腕が乗り、手首には富士山かどこかの山に入山したと思われる腕輪が見えました。よほど疲れていたのか飛行中は最初から最後まで食事も取らず眠ることほぼ14時間。それは私には関係ないことですが、困ったのはかれの無造作に後ろで一つにまとめた長髪の頭が境界線のアームレストを超えて私のほうに倒れてくることです。これは明らかにマナー違反。私が居住まいを正すと相手は驚いたように体を元に戻すのですが、しばらくするとまた同じ。しかも通路の方ではなく、いつも私の方に倒れてきます。私が「侵入ヤメて!」の意を込めて座り直しを繰り返すと、今度は前のテーブルの上にうつ伏せになりまた眠り続けます。私は窓の方に体を寄せながら、本を読んだり機内映画をみたりして数時間先の目的地到着が縮まることを願い続けました。


 ただ一つの救いは機内で観た「カサブランカ」1942年と「フォレスト・ガンプ」1994年。どちらも不朽の名作で、「カサブランカ」はハラハラドキドキの中でのハンフリー・ボガードのイングリッド・バーグマンへの利己的でない愛に感動し、二度目に観る「フォレスト・ガンプ」ではトム・ハンクスの演技力の幅広さに只々感心。どちらも流石と言える作品の構成で余韻がいつまでも残る素晴らしい映画で、席での不快さを忘れさせてくれました。


 エコノミーと言えど高い飛行機代なのに、どうしてあれほど混むのだろうか不思議です。日本人ではないアジア系の乗客が多かったのは他の航空会社とのシェア便で乗客をまとめているのでしょうか。悪いクジを引いた感じですが、無事目的地に着いてほっとしています。


What I wish for the most about a long trip by airplane is a not fully-occupied plane, rather than a good meal or cabin service. If I am traveling with my family or friend, I would be happy to sit side by side, but I wish nobody would sit or somebody with good manners would sit next to me. This time, however, it didn't go that way.

My flight to Boston was full and a young big male passenger took the next seat to me. I thought it must be so cramped for him in such a narrow seat. He put his left arm on the armrest which was in between two of our seats. I saw his wristband used to gain entrance to Mount Fuji (?). He seemed very tired and kept sleeping during the whole flight for hours without taking any meal. It was ok, but the thing I was uncomfortable with was that his head, which had long hair tied back, came over the armrest and leaned towards me. It was obviously out of manner. I did reseat myself to let him know that he was encroaching into my space. At that moment he was surprised and got his back straight but soon he did the same thing again. He kept bothering me. I leaned myself towards the window and read a book or watched movies to forget his annoying movement. I really wished that the remaining flight time to Boston would decrease.

Watching nice movies were the only things that relieved me from uncomfortable situations. I watched Casablanca (1942) and Forrest Gump (1994) which were both masterpieces. I was moved by Rick (H.Bogart)'s unselfish love toward Lisa (Ingrid Bergman) in Casablanca. This was my second time watching Forrest Gump, and I was amazed by the acting of Tom Hanks. Both of these movies were really wonderful.

Even though it was an economy seat, the airfare was still expensive and it was full of passengers. Last time when I was on the plane in February, there were many vacant seats. I don't know why it was so crowded on this flight. I felt that I drew a bad lottery this time but I am relieved to be able to arrive in Boston anyhow.