Into a Writer's Head

Objects in rearview mirror may be smaller than they appear...

Or, in the case of the airplane window, stranger than they appear.

On a recent flight back to Sunny Seattle (yes, it was actually sunny), Ms. K noticed something highly entertaining when looking out her window. And no, it had nothing to do with the child in the seat in front of us who seemed highly amused by Ms. K. No, one second everything is fine, the next second Ms. K is laughing her head off. I looked at her quizzically (because really, is there any other way to look at Ms. K?), to which she responded, "No people in the engine!!" followed by giggle, giggle and a couple of snorts. Huh? No people allowed in the engine? What is she talking about? What is she on? I leaned over the two seats separating us to peer out the window in a sorry attempt to figure out the mind of my dear friend. Apparently we are in the row directly in front of the wing, where you can see the little engine part. Upon this cylindrical piece of metal is the universal sign for people surrounded by a big red circle and a line through it. Yes, ladies and gentleman. Apparently people need to be warned that the big giant metal pieces could chop them up into little bits and spit them back out. People must be warned how dangerous an engine can be. It's like those instructions on a hair dryer: Do Not Use While Sleeping.

So okay, don't go in the engine. People are not allowed in the engine. I can accept this, because really, i never had the desire to go in to the engine in the first place. However, I would like to know who the not so intelligent person was that DID go into the engine and got spit back out in little pieces.

posted by Erin @ 11:24 AM