Pre-flight ritual...

It seems to happen every time I fly. My bags are checked, I somehow made it through security in a few minutes, and now I'm at my gate an hour before my flight boards. Which is not necessarily the end of the world, all the stressful stuff is done. Well, I began my normal pre-flight routine of scanning the terminal looking for the odds of getting a person in the seat next to me that I actually want there... The scan goes something like this... Too fat, too old, too young, too fat, too [umm] male, did I mention too fat... Anyhow, on my last flight to New Orleans I scanned the terminal only to figure I was doomed as usual. Without much hope, I board the plane as I slowly walk down the crowded isle, I count ahead the seats to scan my row and what do I see, a beautiful 30ish blonde woman in the isle seat next to me! Quickly I re-count the rows to make sure that is my row, after all - I'm not that lucky. The counts were right, she is in the seat next to me, I throw the laptop in the overhead compartment, quickly take a peek for the dreaded wedding ring and take my seat! ahhh, I finally hit the jackpot... Four minutes later I found out her boyfriend and kids are across the isle... Oh the plight of the single guy. Atleast I was happy for four minutes - which is four minutes more than most flights... Next flight 10/10 I'm keeping the faith. (: