Compared to most Americans, I’m pretty sanguine when it comes to minor inconveniences. Like being assigned a center seat on an airplane. There are a couple thoughts that run through my mind when this happens:

1. My chances are doubled I’ll sit next to a cute, single girl. (And after my two prior failures following up with girls I’ve gotten numbers for, it stands to reason the third time will be the charm.)

2. My chances are doubled I’ll sit next to someone who needs to take some of my seat space.*

This time around, my neighbors were a portly old man and an old woman playing sudoku. Neither had to use any of my seat space.

I suppose we can call that a draw.

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* I don’t put very much blame on the airlines or the big and tall for seat overflow situations, but that’s a discussion for another time.