I chose a window seat so I could lean against the side during the flight. I know it’s a risk picking that seat. You never know who you’re going to end up next to. But because the flight was long and I was running on minimal hours of sleep, I decided to go for it.
A couple took the two empty seats next to me. Grungy with stringy hair, they reeked of cigarette smoke and cheap cologne. I rolled my eyes and exhaled at my misfortune, silently judging them as they pulled out identical McDonald’s bags.
While trying to hide myself in my book, I noticed that while he has scarfed down his food, she was quietly picking at hers. I noticed her wedding ring…a simple band of gold nestled next to a circle of colored stones. A glance at his hand confirmed that the weathered band around his finger made him her husband.
The plane began to taxi the runway and tears formed in her eyes. “I can’t,” she said shaking her head. “You can,” he replied.
She leaned towards him and he wrapped his arms around her in a tight bear hug. And he held her in that hug the entire flight. All five hours of it.
Sometimes he would hold her hand or stroke her hair. Sometimes he would kiss her on the forehead.
But he never let her out of that hug.
As we made our descent over the bright lights of Chicago, I found myself tearing up. This couple–one that I clearly and rudely misjudged–represent what love is all about.
I smiled at them as I left the plane, saying a silent thank you with my eyes.
Then I pulled out my phone and dialed that familiar number.
“Two more hours, baby. I cannot wait to see you.”
48 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 14, 2008 at 11:12 am
Tina Vaziri
Oh, that’s a good story to start with on a Monday. So sweet.
January 14, 2008 at 11:13 am
littlespoon
Aw, that is so sweet. And it’s hard not to judge from appearance. I do it at least twice a day.
January 14, 2008 at 11:14 am
La
Ditto the spoon, though I probably judge quite a bit more than that, if I’m being honest. I’m glad you’re back!
January 14, 2008 at 11:16 am
Michelle and the City
awe a sappy love story definitely brightened my dismal monday molly, thanks.
and now i’ll have to go home and watch love actually tonight 😉
January 14, 2008 at 11:16 am
julybug
McDonalds, reaking of cigarettes, stringy hair. It sounds to me like they were hungover. And still a very sweet story.
January 14, 2008 at 11:20 am
Lisa
Sweet! Also, I love Micky D’s, okay? Cigarette reeking=not cool, though.
January 14, 2008 at 11:22 am
verybadcat
Couple on the airplane: smells bad, loves good. 🙂 We’re all stinky sometimes.
January 14, 2008 at 11:23 am
Ashley
Ohhh I love this story! What a great way to start Monday 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 11:29 am
distracted spunk
I loved how you put us in the mood for love, after being put in it yourself. Gah! All gooey. This is unfamiliar.
January 14, 2008 at 11:34 am
pie
That’s so sweet. Even stinky kids can love with their smoke filled hearts!
Now I want mcdonalds chicken nuggets.
January 14, 2008 at 11:39 am
indianred
that is beautiful : ) and like michelle, put me in the mood for love actually. glad you’re back!
January 14, 2008 at 11:39 am
violet
i second other comments – i needed this post this morning. makes the cigarette smoke smell on the plane ok 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 11:45 am
crystall
Ok the smell of fast food makes me sick – I bet that was gross on the airplane. But that’s a sweet story awwwwwwwwe. Now I’m wondering who I’m gonna get stuck next to next month – I only EVER fly the window seat. Let’s just say I’m dreaming of a man named Brad.
Pitt of course.
January 14, 2008 at 11:51 am
Clink
Gah! So sweet.
And, um, that totally reminds me of M and I while flying. Minus the stringy hair, cigarettes and cheap cologne.
January 14, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Anna
so sweet
January 14, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Stephanie
Oooh, I love love! Happy Monday. 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 12:41 pm
cdp
Such a sweet story. What a great way to start the week.
So glad you’re back!
January 14, 2008 at 12:48 pm
caitlynintherye
So darn cute. I admit, I was disgusted by them too by your description, and then slowly fell in love with their love. Does that even make sense?
January 14, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Stacey
I love those kind of moments. 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Z
Love the story – and, also, the movie your title came from!
January 14, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Kaitlyn
Love Actually is hands down my favorite Christmas movie. And this post made me tear up!
January 14, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Deutlich
That just made me all misty-eyed. How adorable!
January 14, 2008 at 1:42 pm
chasingparadise
We all need to try to judge less. We’re all guilty though.
Everyone wishes for their kind of love.
January 14, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Jess
That is so cute. It hurts me. It’s so nice to be in love yourself and appreciate more love all around you and then call your own love and know you get to see him soon. We are so lucky.
January 14, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Susie
Awww that is adorable.
And so Love Actually 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 2:00 pm
dreamgrrl
aw that was great. you must be SO happy to be home 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 2:04 pm
DG
Great story – it’s interesting how easily we judge people based on their looks. Sounds like there was true love there 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Jessica
Aaah! My eyes are all teary now…in a good way though. That was a really sweet. I get pretty nervous on planes and it makes me feel so much stronger when my boyfriend squeezes my hand.
January 14, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Rachel
how sweet! I woulda asked them for some fries! ha ha.
January 14, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Angela
What a sweet story! I’m such a judger… I need to try to remember this story in the future to keep myself from my snap judgments. Thanks for sharing!
January 14, 2008 at 2:45 pm
ttcmb
Such a great story. I, too, am guilty of making judgments and am constantly reminded that people are more than what we see.
January 14, 2008 at 2:53 pm
kwarterlifecrisis
Aww, I kind of teared up reading that. I, too, am often quick to judge people but it’s always awesome to be proven so wrong.
January 14, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Sara
I’m totally guilty of judging people by their appearance. At least we admit it.
A great story, though, and something for everyone to aim for in their relationship, I think.
January 14, 2008 at 3:01 pm
JenBun
That’s so sweet… and you see moments like these when you least expect it, when you aren’t looking for them, when you are silently judging people who end up surprising you. Or, at least, that’s the way it happens to me…
January 14, 2008 at 3:04 pm
tia
i totally just teared up. how sweet.
January 14, 2008 at 3:47 pm
qu33nbee
That’s the exact reason I don’t judge. Because people, no matter how they look or how they act, usually will surprise you. But it’s human to judge others.
I’m sure people see B and I and think we’re just poor, shallow college students. I’m sure no one would guess that we struggle every day for money, to get him to go to class, and a million other things. And the last thing people would guess, I’m sure, is how happy we are, how perfect we think our life really is. Because it’s not the outside that counts. Or as a popular musician once said, “It’s not having what you want. It’s wanting what you’ve got.”
January 14, 2008 at 4:35 pm
alyndabear
That is possibly the sweetest story…. 🙂
January 14, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Princess Taj
Haha, so funny how perspectives can VARY!!! You saw them and thought, “ahhhh, love.” If it were me, and I was tired, and exhausted and DYING to get home, I would have thought, “Oh Christ, eat your stupid McDonald’s and get over it.”
No wonder the Universe hates me 😉
January 14, 2008 at 5:51 pm
A Lil' Irish Lass
Beautifully touching post.
January 14, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Vanessa
What a beautiful couple!
January 14, 2008 at 6:07 pm
sally
ditto comments above, love that movie. makes me cry everytime!
January 14, 2008 at 8:29 pm
katelin
Awe that’s a precious story. It’s always comforting to see love in the simplest of forms. Lovely.
January 14, 2008 at 9:11 pm
s.t
this story made my day!
January 14, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Jen M
I was right there with you – judging the McDonalds – then cursing myself after finishing the post.
What a neat couple.
January 14, 2008 at 11:54 pm
daily editor
That’s so interesting. I mean, was it the flight that she couldn’t handle, or the food, or maybe both? Anyway, what a nice gesture to witness. I guess they’re married for a reason. Sounds like they work together.
January 15, 2008 at 4:45 am
frmad
This post is very hot, it is high ranked at our site (daily weblog, weblog post ranking site). See http://blogrank.info/indirect-page-to-blog-report/ for more infomation
January 15, 2008 at 4:48 am
ana
Awww so sweet, love is a little infectious don’t you think, when is the whole world gonna catch it, if ever?
January 15, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Sassafras
Hold on while I wipe the tear away…