Red Eye Flights, Photoshopping and Faking It

I don't want to pile on Kate Middleton - I mean Princess Catherine - who is recovering from some kind of abdominal surgery. I'm guessing she still feels awful and now she's in hot water for having "edited" and releasing a photo of herself looking happy and healthy with her three children.

But Kate has nothing on whoever designed the photo on the above left. See that lady smiling gently in her sleep on an overnight flight? And not a wrinkle on her dress. Because who wouldn't wear a sleeveless dress on a plane? The cabin is always the same comfortable temperature. And all the other (distinctly white) people seem to be having a wonderful time. The guy next to the woman evidently gets a kick out of just being next to her. And that couple in the back are having a a real laugh. Good times at 40,000 feet.

Pah-leez. I took a "red eye" (apt nickname) earlier this week and even with a reclining seat, eye shades and a little pharmaceutical help, sleep was hard to come by. I mean, it's air travel. In 2024. I'm just happy a door didn't blow off.

To be clear - I AM NOT COMPLAINING. I was returning from a fabulous trip seeing my freshman college roommate. Totally voluntary and a wonderful time. And complaining about not being able to sleep on a vacation flight is your classic First-World problem.

But I did have to teach (journalism class in a prison) in the evening on the same day that I landed, and I was a zombie. Nor was I about to tell the men in my class, "Sorry guys, I'm jet-lagged." They'd give anything for that kind of experience.

Anyway, after three days, I'm almost back to normal. (Or as normal as I ever was.) And on so many levels, feeling extremely grateful - not just for the safe landing but also for all that I have in my life.