Breaking the monotony of air travel, the man seated next to me on a flight from La Guardia Airport to Florida Fort Lauderdale Airport made their choice of in-flight entertainment a doozy. To the amazement of those sharing the cabin, the passenger opted to watch “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game,” a film that chronicles the history and resurgence of pinball.
This unexpected in-flight entertainment choice serves as a reminder of the diverse interests and passions that passengers bring with them on their journeys. It highlights the potential for serendipitous connections and shared experiences in the air, where strangers become fellow travelers in more ways than one.
Additionally, the man who chose to watch “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game” demanded free drinks in exchange for switching his seat to keep a Hasidic couple with an infant together. Late in the flight, the man asked for another free Dewar’s. The flight attendants told the man he had reached the limit. The man paused “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game” and became belligerent screaming at full volume in a sea of Hasidic infants, “I switched my f*ckin’ seat for this, lady!”
It was later learned that the man was en route to his aunt’s funeral in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
