living in denial

Have you ever known someone who refuses to accept their currently bad situation even if it’s painfully obvious that the situation is really terrible? For some reason I woke up this morning thinking about that and the thought occurred to me: probably the ultimate example of this phenomenon would be an airline steward who gets up to answer the ‘ding’ of a bell in 17B, is sucked out the back of the airplane and yet continues on as though nothing happened. I can picture him (for some reason it’s a him) thinking (and talking) as he accelerates towards his 125 mph terminal velocity:

“Here we go again. Another drink for Mr. I’m-going-to-have-to-get-up-before-the-pilot-turns-off-the-fasten-seatbelt-sign-or-I’ll-wet-myself. I wonder what he wants this time…there’s only so much Ginger Ale on this flight, you know. Oh great, hang on…

Excuse me sir, yes you, 32F. You’re going to need to turn off your electronic devices…Yes, all of them…Even that one, sir…Sir, why do you even have a toaster?

...Maybe he didn’t know. No, he knew. They always know.

I’m not really sure why those thoughts were occupying my mind so heavily during my morning shower. Especially because at some point the hero of our story has no choice but decide to splat. Maybe I’m also living in denial since that didn’t really occur to me until just now…