I appreciate more the things that flick my switches because my many years include many experiences of their absences. Selflessness, for example, always gets top marks and will continue to do so especially after an unbelievable experience of selfishness on a recent flight.

Time with love ones, enlightenment and fitness are key drivers in the decisions, planning and execution of my holidays. My schedules for Sierra Leone holidays make rest a nice to have that is relegated to in-flight activity. Luckily, the frame I maintain means an economy class seat works for me and all have to do is enable the regular stretches demanded by sciatica and disproportionately long legs by getting aisle seats.

Anyway, on the Casablanca to Freetown leg of my recent trip to Sierra Leone, there is a man in the middle seat of the three that includes my aisle seat. His wife had the window seat. As I settle in, I feel the weight of him pressing against me courtesy of an elbow that had breached the arm rest that was supposed to separate our seats by at least six inches. I am never fussed about arm rests but my space is strictly for me… and permitted intruders of course. Trying hard not to show my irritation, I told elbow man he was in my space and causing me discomfort. His response was rather paradoxical; a very polite delivery of a most impolite attitude.

Elbow Man: I know, but my woman (sic) likes to be comfortable on flights so I want to give her space.

Me: Well, getting into my space to lean on me is not the solution I recommend.

Elbow Man: Please understand. Some of us are a bit broad (sic) and struggle with the size of these seats.

Me (with ditched pretence at calmness): Let me make a few things clear to you. Firstly, your woman’s need for comfort is yours to deal with and not mine to be inconvenienced by. Secondly, I am not sure at what point your size became my problem. So, basically, you will not be leaning on me for the next four hours.

With my message received and understood, he worked his way into a snugness that his in-flight meal efforts indicated he had eaten his way into.

Yep, it was going to be all about them. A woman seeking comfort at any cost to others and a man more generous with his issues than with his food.

Examples of selfishness you just couldn’t make up.

#NoMeMyselfAndI

© Othame Kabia