So, how was your flight across the Atlantic today?  Er…….fine! Not too bad!  What? Come on Anthea, just tell it like it is.

Okaaaay! So let’s just leave it like this ….. it could have been worse.

That woman across the aisle from me? The one who reached rudely in front of me to bag a spot in the overhead above MY seat? Yes, that one!!  It could have been a whole lot worse had she not taken time to wash her underarms before leaving home. That furry pit jammed up my nose could have given reason for an elbow {mine} to involuntarily connect with her solar plexus.

Yes, things could have been worse.

The parents of the sick screaming child in the row ahead of me could’ve bitch slapped me instead of glaring at me like I was a bug, when I lovingly suggested (after two hours of their chaotic, frantic flapping and hand wringing that had two flight attendants dancing like circus monkeys) perhaps something as simple as a cool wet wash cloth on their kid’s forehead could help lower that 102′ temperature. Did they not understand that with 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 greats, I really might have some helpful input? Oh well!  Get on with it then!

Yes it definitely could have been worse.

The skinny daddy-long-legged-ADHD kid with the permanent scowl on his face, seated at the end of my row, with incessant tapping feet and lightening thumbs clicking away on the TV games controller buttons when it was time to sleep, could have had an identical twin in the empty seat next to me. Ugh!

Yes it could have been way worse.

The individual somewhere close by with the uncontrollable rectal sphincter could have launched smelly burps in between the horrendous stink bombs exploding from his other end every few minutes.

Oh my goodness it could have been much worse.

A wheel could have fallen off the plane, or we could have plunged into the Atlantic, or ended up an ornament on the Westminster Abbey Spire, instead of the smooth, safe landing the pilots dealt us.

Whew! In the end, it’s safety first that matters! So very grateful for so many small mercies. Happily both feet on the ground and after a good nght’s sleep in my peaceful B&B I’ll be energized and psyched to face whatever life throws at me tomorrow.