You may have seen the video of one passenger falling asleep — head bobbing over a stranger’s lap — while flying from Baltimore to Manchester, N.H. An awkward situation for sure. If you haven’t seen it, click here.
It reminded me of a recent encounter I had with a stranger’s hairy (and crusty) foot while en route from Chicago to Tanzania. When I say hairy, I mean long, steely black hairs on the big toe. You could have made rope out of them. Traveling internationally I was prepared for inconveniences, but this was absurd. And gross.
I wasn’t even out of the country yet. In fact, I wasn’t even off the O’Hare’s tarmac(!) when a woman sitting behind me propped her hairy toe on the back of my arm rest. At first I thought, “Surely she’s not going to leave it there.” But she did — for quite a while. In between moments of gagging (and bouts of uncontrollable laughter), I snapped a few pictures and posted them on Twitter.
I don’t think I’ve ever posted a picture that received so much reaction on Twitter. My favorite came from Amanda Palumbo who told me to “STAB IT WITH A PEN!!!!!!!!”
Tempting. But then I would have risked bodily fluids getting on me and #yuck. The crusty, dry skin and black hairs standing at attention was enough to give me nightmares. I couldn’t imagine stabbing it. I wanted to get as far away from it as possible.
The woman eventually moved her appendage from my arm rest and I managed to endure the ordeal without ever bumping into it. But I did get some pics that are still difficult for me to look at. I mean, really? If you’re going to stick your feet up in other people’s business, make sure you’re feet are pretty first. Or at the very least, shave your toes. Right?
Have you ever encountered an awkward situation while flying? Leave us a comment on Facebook or in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
