Ok - it's not nice to laugh at someone at their expense. Really. It IS human nature to do so, though, and sometimes it seems like it can't be helped. But since all of us have been given more or less some sense of self control, I suggest you exercise it as often as you can - especially on an airplane, especially in the presence of those people for whom it's a mighty struggle to get the peanut package open.
There are seventeen peanuts artistically splayed out in and in front of the open peanut package here on the homepage of the Southwest blog. You can bet that great lengths were taken to place those peanuts just so for the photo shoot - the spacing is precise, there's a good mixture of whole and half nuts, and shadows from the perfect lighting fall gently around them. But wouldn't you have liked to have been in the studio when that package was opened? Does it look like they got it on the first try?
I've seen some amazing contortions in airplane seats after the Flight Attendants make their way through the cabin with snacks. Elbows extended, backs twisting, lips curving into a grimace; teeth, fingernails, paperclips, the ends of pens - all have been employed to try to get into what sometimes seems like and indestructible little bag. It can seriously crack the demeanor of the coolest, best dressed, most perfectly coifed flyer. Maybe you've been there yourself. If not, and this is happening with your seatmate, or the person across the aisle, the temptation to point and laugh may feel overwhelming. But, remember your self control...and as gently as you're able to, point out the tiny little tear on the right side of the package that's there to serve as a starting point for peanut access. (Same goes for the pretzels.) You'll feel good about "being there" for your fellow traveler, they'll be saved some embarrassment, and it might even lead to a spirited conversation about the merits of honey- vs. dry-roasted.
Comments
As someone with a peanut allergy I am glad the bags can be hard to open. On planes where peanuts are given out could be have a no peanut section one day?
Mary,
What a great blog piece! Yes, you are quite correct -- it CAN be, ummm, entertaining to watch folks try to get into those wonderful little bags of nourishment. I love your sense of humor at describing the activity surrounding "snack time" onboard, because at one time or another, I've seen all of the things you've described. Personally, I employ the "Popeye" approach made famous on hundreds of cartoons by the spinach-eating sailor.
I grab the bag with my right hand, and using my massive forearm muscles that resemble those of our favorite naval person (after USS Blog Boy, of course), I squeeze the bag and all of the peanuts fly up in a perfect arc through the air and into my waiting mouth. It does require a fair amount of scientific calculation, though, to take into account the acceleration of the peanuts relative to the blowing air from the three overhead vents above each seat in the cabin and the forward velocity of the plane measured in adjusted ground speed.
Happy munching,
Kim :)
P. S. In the display of peanuts that you've noted above, I am one of the HALF nuts; Brian, however, is a complete nut.
to do this day i cannot open my bag of peanuts. the flight attendants should say "to properly open your bag of peanuts..." that would be funny. I CANNOT STAND DRY ROASTED PEANUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SET HONEY ROASTED PEANUTS FREE..:)
USS BLOG BOY
Disagree with Kim's postscript - Kim is an absolute and total nut. One of many qualities I admire in him.
But I digress and need to respectfully disagree with Mary too. Yes, there is supposed to be a "tiny little tear on the right side of the package thatÃ
LOL Kim! You're the best!
Though I have to say, I think I saw your technique once, and it appeared that your calculations were just a weeeee bit off...... :-)
When I was younger, I had this same issue with a bag of peanuts on ML airlines (guess who that is. No cheating googlers!) I used brutal arm strength to tear into the bag. Unlike Kim, none of them went into my mouth. Instaed they went in the seat behind me ,sorry sis, and in those areas of abyss that only Brian knows where. I was 13 or so.
Jim,
How about plane cracker blog boy?
1483 MDW-DTW
401 DTW-MDW
2281 BNA-DTW
986 DTW-BNA
All cancelled today.
401 changed from a 300 to a 700 and went to SAN
It diverted from DTW- MDW and is a result unknown Anyone know why?
Brian?
Bueller?
Ding! boy
;-)
Ok....I admit it, I was also one of those nuts trying to open those mean little packages that torment us on every flight!!
As I said above I "was" because I found a very creative way to figure out the proper way to open those things without totally embarassing myself or the people traveling with me...
The first step is to have a child, this child has to be very smart , that way they can apply and be hired into a management position at an airfreight company...
This airfreight company must use SWA to ship..
Those SWA reps that go to the airfreight companies are VERY generous (not surprising) and are always giving my daughter gifts.. Yes, they gave her an entire box of those nuts and in turn I received a full unopened bag, not sure but there must have been 50 of those little bags in the bigger bag..
I practiced opening those little monsters in the privacy of my kitchen, where no one could see how silly I looked until I finally got the hang of it...
Now I can board those SW flights and actually look like a pro with my nuts!! lol
I know, I know.....Thats cheating, but hey you'd do it too!!
I agree with blog boy, set the honey roasted nuts free and ship those dry roasted nuts back. Great blog Mary, you have a wonderful way with words.
I'll take Dry Raosted Over Honey Roasted anytime. To solve the problem of Challenging Bags just eat the bag as well. hmmm Edible peanut bags perhaps candy corn flavored.
Hey Jim how about Big Sky Blog Boy?
Maybe because of the weather..
uss blog boy
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