by Karen Cleveland

Everyone has a nervous habit. Some are private; others are public. Very public.

So public that they become impediments on other’s well being. Mind that if you chew ferociously on your nails or cuticles, it may really gross people out. Or we’ve all bared witness to serial button pushers (you know, the folks that get on the elevator or arrive at the cross walk and press that same button that you just pressed a dozen times –why? Do you think once it hits a magic “30” is magically speeds up?).

A new bee buzzed under my bonnet when flying back from Calgary. Being a nervous flyer, I am completely empathetic of link-minded passengers. Until the woman across from me started to jangle her arms full of bracelets: it sounded like a steel drum band beside me at take off and landing. Perhaps a blessing in disguise though: I was so pissed off that when she finally stopped, I was overcome with such relief and a peaceful calm, my jet-nerves were calmed. Fancy that.