Air travel, like tech support is a challenge to our humanity, an opportunity to find the human points of connection in a corporate environment where customers are brutalized and employees are overworked, underpaid, harried and unhappy. I was on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Portland. The flight was four hours and the space around my seat was so tight that I couldn’t move my legs in any direction and when the woman in front of me, pushed her seat all the way back I couldn’t move and I was surprised to feel a claustrophia that began to feel like a panic attack. I told myself that I could handle it, but Maria noticed and I was beginning to wonder if I really could stay in that position for four hours.

I understand that airlines are servicing stockholders not people. On every flight I am asked to pay more for less, and the leg room was almost a form of cruelty.

Flying a pain ought not to hurt. None of these is the employee’s fault and I am always touched by how so many people struggle to affirm their humanity without losing their temper or perspective. This is the beautiful part of any experience like this, from Tech Support to boarding a plane.

I got some unexpected help as we whizzed over the Plains States. I whipped out my Ipad holy book and opened up Crazy Birds RIO and they flew with me across the country and kept me steady. How curious is life to bring you the things you need if you permit it. So happy to be in Portland. I will hope for an airline to come along that does not treat people like credit-card bearing livestock. I will be on those planes.