I’m in row 29, seat F.
On an American Airline MD80 aircraft.
The plane is close to full – maybe 10 open seats.
If I eaves drop, I can hear a number of conversations going on.
I’m sitting next to a person I could enter into conversation with.
But I don’t.
I don’t want to talk right now.
That doesn’t mean I’m snobbish or I’m not engaged in all that’s going on around me.
~The young woman juggling the baby right behind me.
~The movie star type sitting next to me.
~The flight attendant serving us all with a smile.
~The excited chatty family in front of me.
My silence doesn’t mean I don’t care.
Or that I’m never interested in conversations with my stranger/companions.
Just not today.
Which gets me thinking about lurkers. Me. You. Everybody online.
Hiding in plain sight, not wanting to converse but still listening.
Here on this plane, I understand us a little better.
I’m in a lurker mood today. Fully here. Absolutely a part of all that’s happening.
I’m taking it all in. I just don’t want a leading role. Not today.









