| For many of us, once we get on a train, bus, or | | | | roommate. |
| plane we are ready to relax after frantically | | | | She finished her conversation with her Dad and |
| handling last minute details. We take a deep | | | | then called a girlfriend to discuss how she treated |
| breath and check to see if we have everything | | | | the new guy she met at special event in Seattle. |
| handy for the length of our journey: Book? Got it. | | | | Then, I had to hear about the casino, apartment, |
| Eyeglasses? Check. A pen for underlining or | | | | job etc....you get the picture. |
| making notes? Check. For those of us who are | | | | Soon others were looking at me with sympathy. |
| less fortunate, and not in first-class on trains and | | | | The man behind me asked the conductor if he |
| airplanes, a water bottle is essential. We're all set | | | | could pass out earplugs. It soon was evident that |
| to go. | | | | EVERY person in the car had to listen to her the |
| Recently, this was the scene as I was about to | | | | entire trip too. |
| embark on a 3.5 hour train ride from Seattle, | | | | I tapped on the woman's shoulder and said, "Are |
| Washington to Vancouver Washington. The trip | | | | you aware that everyone in this car has heard |
| takes me along the Hood Canal and any given | | | | everything you have said on your phone calls?" |
| day the scenery is spectacular. On this trip, my | | | | She gave me a dirty looked, and then signed off |
| timing was such that that I would be able to | | | | on her phone call. |
| watch the sunset over the Canal. What a special | | | | This isn't an isolated story. The same thing |
| treat! | | | | happens at airports in waiting rooms, on planes |
| We hadn't yet pulled away from the station when | | | | -especially if the is plane is delayed and sitting on |
| a young woman in the seat in front of me | | | | the tarmac. Do know that "private" phone calls in |
| started a phone conversation. I could hear every | | | | public areas are not private. |
| word she said, yet, I convinced myself that she | | | | On the positive side, a recent trip on a bus from |
| was just making a quick call to tell her Dad she | | | | Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to the |
| was all set for the journey. | | | | airport turned out to be great fun. Four of us |
| The train started its' journey and the sights of | | | | sitting near each other started a great |
| Seattle whizzed by my window. The young | | | | conversation. We were laughing and learning about |
| woman's conversation continued as she told her | | | | each other's adventures. In addition, we learned |
| Dad about her first time in a casino and how she | | | | some useful tips for our next journey. |
| had won $16. She shared news about her new | | | | Travelers need to understand that most of the |
| apartment, the job application she had put at the | | | | time "private conversations" are not private. If |
| Cheese Cake Factory (I can even tell which | | | | you need to make a phone call, look for an area |
| location) and how she wasn't sure about her new | | | | that is away from the assembled crowd. |