Sunday 26 June 2011

"Can I sit by the window, please?"

I have always liked sitting by the window whenever I travel, be it the car, bus, ship or air-plane. This attribute which was easily granted when I was a kid, gradually fades as age advances. It so happens that when one is an adult, one is expected to give up the window seat for a kid in the family. I find this quite annoying. I liked sitting by the window when I was a kid and I still do.



Whenever a child (while on a trip) is crying or throwing tantrums, the first pacifying act would be to take the child to the nearest window. If all the window seats are occupied by other children, the window seat that is occupied by an adult (in most cases, me) is politely demanded. How I dread those demands? As one grows older, one is expected to always let go even if the individual holds a passion for the same.

All adults invariably accept to let go when one is asked to. I wonder how this change happens. Are adults people with no preferences? This sacrificial attitude of adults is something I cannot come into terms with. While children are given whatever they prefer, adults are supposed to be passive when it comes to express their likes and dislikes. This is more common with the womenfolk, who always let go (for their husbands, children, elders . . . the list is long). Sometimes the chicken thigh (another preference of mine is always given to a smiling kid who makes it clear that she/he can eat nothing else).

The cycle goes on when that demanding child grows up and lets go for another child. I wonder what happens to preferences as one grows old. That window seat is always my preference and somehow I try to get it (carefully negotiating the seat from children).

Do you like the window seat, in particular or are you a no-fuss person who can sit anywhere? Sometimes small things like a window-seat gives moments of happiness and joy. It almost seems like watching the world go by while one is sitting cocooned in another world.

Image: Internet

44 comments:

  1. Hi Deborah. before it didn't matter where I get to sit because I travel sleeping due to motion sickness. But after I've overcome that...I sit next to the window... I usually take pictures of sceneries...Luckily, the kids in my family aren't allowed to sit there unless the car/bus isn't airconditioned :P

    Anyhow...hahaha...I like your post ;)

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  2. I like the window seat. The concept of a 'window seat' can be interpreted in many ways. (think I could go on ......:)

    The window seat keeps us in the light

    Literally, it keeps my mind open; to let the outside view in and let my mind roam.
    But for a long while now, I just want to avoid it. pull the blinders down and 'rest'.
    Is it fatigue? Or do I just not want to think anything outside my current state and perhaps am afraid to let the outside in?

    BMe

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  3. i do like looking out the window but find i meet more people if i sit in the interior...so it is a toss up for me...

    how are you? how is married life?

    good to see you....

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  4. I was oldest of 6 boys I remember trips from Boston to Florida all of us in that car!!! I always wanted a window seat just to escape the drama and to look at the changing scenery

    http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2011/06/sacred-ibis-and-american-white-ibis.html

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  5. There is where i must sit to enjoy a trip... especially on buses and trains... As an adult I've learnt to give the pleasure only to my son... otherwise, I demand what I like!
    ;-)

    Hugs, dearest!

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  6. I soooooo get what you mean. I dont think satisfying every whim of children just in order to pacify them or stop them having a temper tantrum in public is a good way to raise them really. My parents never did that. They'd always talk with me and tell me that just becoz I was a kid I cud not expect to inconvenience other elders, even those in my family, becoz by asking them I was putting them in a situation where they cud not refuse, as it wud be considered immeasurably callous to refuse a little kid's demand.

    But the kindness of strangers and a window seat that landed up in one's lap was always happily appreciated, just like it still is.

    I'll probably always be a little kid at heart that way. :D

    Such a fine and honest post, Susan. How are you? How's married life treating you? :)

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  7. i prefer the WS inorder not to be pushed and shoved and to give way for the constantly moving Indian passenger

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  8. Always always the window seat.
    There are so many things to look at, how can one ignore all that.
    You can write books and books from what you see from a window of a train, bus car or plane (in that order)

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  9. I'm a window seat fan and have refused to give up my seat for someone else. After all, first in, best dressed is my motto when it comes to seats on trains and buses where you can't book seats. I remember going to college and getting annoyed with the little kids that would stand near the window when I had the seat and would inch their way into the seat on their mothers' insistence. I love the window seat on the plane too despite my fear of flying and was fortunate to get window seats in 2009 on all the 4 flights I had to take during my trip to India. This year I wasn't as lucky...while I had a window seat on 3 flights, the final one from Singapore to Sydney saw me seated in the middle which was very disappointing for me! :P

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  10. Wonderful Post. Thought provoking actually. I guess the letting go happens in adults more easily because their hands are full of things to do places to be, many opportunities to do what they want unlike the kids who are at the mercy of that one trip taken by their parents. When they have the opportunity to look and see something interesting.

    But I agree. Adults shouldn't let go of the things they like.

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  11. I always always ask for the window seat - even more so if I am travelling alone - infact I tell people I make a perfect co passenger when travelling on long flights if I am at the window seat becos I never ever use the flight loo ;)
    Well apart from that - i love the take-off and landing views :)

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  12. Dear Susan, I am definitely a window seats person, both in trains and planes.;)
    In trains I enjoy simply watching the scenery passing by as the landscape changes and cities too, indicating we are moving forward, albeit slowly to reach our destination,;))
    In planes, I am nervous flier, still I need to look out of the window to see what is taking place outside the aircraft - I am carefully piecing together the sounds the plane makes with whatever I can observe on the wings, such as the extension/retraction of flaps and also making sure the engines are not on fire.;))
    Then as the plane slowly reaches cruising altitude I simply enjoy the view of the clouds or the scenery below.
    Susan, on another note, as you know I am taking a break and will miss your enlightening writing, but I should be back very soon. I need to live my life as it is now and I will be very busy for the next month or two.;))
    Take care dear friend and have a wonderful summer,
    xoxo

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  13. Hey Susan, good to have you back and blogging! I am also a fan of window seats but nowadays I am less attached to it. I can seat either at the window seat or the aisle seat. However the one I really hate is the middle seat. I shudder at the thought of having to seat in between two adults!

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  14. Window seat, an ipod, wap enabled phone fully charged, take me anywhere you'd like to.

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  15. When I travel by plane I don't like the window seat because I hate to walk over the others and the feeling of being pushed towards it and the noise bugs me!

    By car ..... love the window and try not to give it up!

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  16. I like the window seat as well... mostly because I don't like to feel closed in or because I don't want to miss out on anything going on around me. I do believe we give up a lot as we grow older, especially women. Before we know it, we are no longer making our own decisions, but everyone around us is making them for us. It's sad but true. And a window seat is the least of these that we give up.

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  17. "Do you like the window seat, in particular or are you a no-fuss person who can sit anywhere? "

    Answer: BOTH! I really like the cockpit seat--either one--best. I am not a pilot. grin!

    Good life to you, Susan.
    JOY! ALWAYS!
    And...PEACE!

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  18. Melissa:

    Nice to see you here after a long time. Hope you have been well. Taking pictures is a good excuse to sit in the window seat.

    Glad that you liked the post :)

    BM:

    Ofcourse there can be many interpretations. Sometimes the interpretations weigh heavily on us and I can perfectly get what you are saying. It will soon pass.

    Be happy and blessed :)

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  19. Brian:

    Definitely a toss up!!!

    Married life is BLISS. Glad to back in the loop :)

    Jim:

    "escape the drama," Oh yes. Even I use the window as a means of escape.

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  20. Dulce:

    :)

    Hugs back to you my dearest Dulce.

    Karishma:

    Kindness of strangers is something that always moves me to tears and inspires me as well.

    Thanks for your ever thoughtful comments, dear Karishma. Married life is good and joyous.

    Hope you have been well :)

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  21. John:

    Quite true :)

    Joe:

    I can see those passages in your posts, Joe :)

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  22. PB:

    We all have our own sweet stories of window seats, don't we. It would be wonderful to compile all of them.

    Sameera:

    Your way of looking at things is indeed interesting. But adults always end up letting go.

    :)

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  23. Yuvika:

    I like all the views that are seen from a window except a few.

    Zuzana:

    I shall miss your writings, dear Zuzana. Hope to see you soon :)

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  24. Greetings dear Deborah,

    Give me a window seat every time, be it plane, train and bus. Even while driving I cannot hep but look to my left and even to my right, always searching for that road traveled less.

    As to giving up my seat to a child would be difficult, so I would opt to share and then the experience could become a treasured experience for both as I could point out similarities and differences as we both look out at the scenery; but giving it up would be very hard as I am a visual vacuum.

    Best wishes,
    Egmont

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  25. On planes I'll prefer the seat by the passage in case I need easy access to the loo. In trains and buses I'll sit only near the window to watch the scenery. I'm definitely a window person.

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  26. …ah, i loved sitting and standing by the window… and what’s the sense of calling me ‘window lad’ if i don’t so..?!.. from a window view i get many an inspiration… i see many a bliss… i hear many a singing… i feel many affection… too many.. too too many… it’s a haven for one who’s caged from the many rules laid by the selfish-public… ah, don’t want to get emotive here…hehe… i agree with you when you say ‘as one grows older, one is expected to always let go even if the individual holds a passion for the same..’ , i can relate in many situations like this Susan… especially when it comes dealing with my younger sibs and when riding a bus…(T__T)

    Glad you’re writing again!(:

    Good day.

    ~Kelvin

    p.s. i left a comment on the other post..((:

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  27. You've been hanging around with a lot of spoiled brats lately? Poor you! I love the window seat too,and like you, try to maneuver things so I can get it :)

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  28. it's even more difficult when three children demand the drumsticks at Thanksgiving time. If only turkeys had one more leg.

    I think that we don't stop wanting and having preferences, but we learn to pick the battles. We conform to certain things because it is not worth it putting up a fight for it. There is so much more to fight for than having a drumstick. Fortunately, I never liked that piece of the chicken...

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  29. Hi Deborah:

    I like your post. The window seat and the whole concept that goes with it is interesting. When I was growing up I had to fight for the window seat, the front seat etc and didn't usually win. Then I grew up and had children, window seats went to them. When I would fly alone, I would request the window seat, more than anything because I Could have it. Now it just doesn't matter anymore. Through the years I've grown comfortable in my own skin, lost my hangups and have learned what is really important.

    Okay, so maybe I see deeper into this than it's meant to be. Bottom line, I've always like window seats because of how much I could see and having the need to see. Now I've learned that I like aisle seats, from which I can see enough, but still get up and move around more easily!

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  30. ok shove those kids outta the way.. I want that window seat LOLOLO...As always...XOXOXOXO

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  31. oh boy, window seat. Like being in a sardine can. I need my space, give me the aile seat, somewhere to put my long legs. And will you please close that blind i want to take a power nap

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  32. Our kids certainly didn't get whatever they asked for.Window seats were earnt. The mornings' squabbles over who got the red plate for breakfast settled by whoever behaved. They learnt the word "NO".

    Today our 3 kids are earning their way in the world. And all have careers working in social structures rather than corporate. Very giving kids because they learnt the 'window seat' is a reward, not a right.

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  33. Ah well I'm kinda a window sit person on a thoughtful day :D other days I like to sit and watch what's happening in my immediate vicinity. It's nice to be able to look out and see the world beyond the window but you can see just as much if not more by looking within it.

    Love and light hunni oxox

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  34. OtienoHongo:

    Seems good to be back, you know. As we grow older, we just give up the small stuff and then forget it.

    Hope you've been good.

    Sergent:

    Absolutely!

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  35. Savira:

    :)


    Farfalla dreams:

    Welcome. And yes, a window seat is the least of the things that we give up in our lives.

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  36. Steve:

    Cockpit?!?!? Trust you for that. But the passengers would not like that! Missed you and your words, dear Steve :)

    Egmont:

    Nice to see a comment from you :) I like the word "visual vaccum" and many times I have a fear that my thirst for the visual would be ignored.

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  37. DUTA:

    Glad to know that there are many visual vaccums like me.

    Kelvin:

    I so know that you are a window lad! Glad to be writing again and savouring comments from readers as you :)

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  38. Corinne:

    Not really, Corinne but I did not get the window many times. We always maneuver things in life, don't we?

    Myriam:

    We learn many things and we also learn to let go. A window seat and drumstick are but few examples.

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  39. Kimlyb:

    Welcome here and glad to read your insight. And yes, the window can be a metaphor for so many things in life. I liked the way you have put across things. Happy to have come into contact with you :)

    Bongo:

    As always, xoxoxo

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  40. Oh Susan I absolutely love the window seat. I find it very very difficult to give it up. It is difficult to kill that child in us - I am here to keep it happy and thriving with as many windows I can provide to it. Loved your post.

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  41. Larry:

    Power nap? Lazy man. Look out and watch life alive.

    Jim:

    What about you, Jim? Do you like being seated at the window-seat?

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  42. SJ:

    How nice to read you, SJ. Hope you've been well. Looking out has always been a pleasant exercise for me, anytime.

    Kriti:

    Let us keep that child alive, always. Joy always, dear Kriti.

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  43. I've al;ways looked out, beyond the obvious. Susan.
    Don't know why, but the obvious I leave for others to look at. It's beyond our immediate portals that interest me.

    The 'window seat' is a nice metaphor for do you demand to sit there, or do you sit there as a reward.

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  44. As a kid, I got it, Jim since I was a kid. Now I just choose the seat. If someone demands it, I give in but not for too long :)

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