On my very first trip overseas

On my very first trip overseas I coughed all the way to Europe, because the in-flight chainsmokers gave me a dire case of childhood asthma.

Thinking about it now, I’m drawn to the conclusion that my generation will be the last to remember smoking on airplane flights. I say this because it’s often the memory of supposedly irrelevant things that shows how society has made important changes.

So when we pass into the universe, as 40-somethings now, the world will be completely void of first-hand experience of smoking in mid-air. Finally I can say, I am a historical relic.

Let’s face it, dumping smokers at the back  of the plane was an act of positive segregation, in a world where the mere mention of the word ‘segregation’ triggers the nicest folks. The other instance is making sure that all those who cannot swim (like kiddies) stay in the shallow end of the pool.

So, basically I am saying that I am happy I don’t have to sit with the smokers, or wallow in a mixture of baby pee and chlorine. Otherwise I am happy to share the world with absolutely everyone.

I think in these divisive times it is something that needs to be said.