10.30a Delta flight 3223 from SLC to STL - In the forward cabin are 6 people: a doctor or nurse (not sure which). He’s in scrubs and has a jacket with “Critical Care-something or other” emblem on the chest. The doctor (I’m pretending he’s a doctor because nurse would kill the fantasy) is closer to my age, prob mid 40s. Rugged good looks but not too good looking. Good hair. Good jeans. Good shoes. He’s got a warm smile. I like that. Shows he’s not a narcissistic asshole. I bet he’s good with patients.
Behind the doctor there’s a 50-something business man in a white mock-t. Who the hell wears mock-tees anymore? Actually my dad does and I make fun of him too. Ugh. I hated those when they were in style in the 80s. And it’s cream colored. Oh god. I just noticed his belt is fabric and has bears on it. I think they’re Grateful Dead bears. I only know that because of Mel and KK. At DG they had those damn bears plastered everywhere in their rooms. I wouldn’t know a Grateful Dead song if they played it at my wedding.
The guy in front of me is about 50ish too but I can’t really see his features. He’s like me though and takes advantage of the extra space in the empty seat next to him. I take that back, we’re not alike at all. He’s got a little spiral notepad he’s writing on, tearing off sheets and crumpling them. Dude, get a 21st century notebook.
First class isn’t full at all. Out of 12 seats only half are taken. The guy across the isle from me is, wait for it... in his 50s. I’m on the flight of middle aged, white men. He’s got his laptop out. He’s probably pretending to do work like me because neither of us can get a signal and we both know it. He looks like he’d be an engineer. Earlier I saw him reading documents that looked like engineering drafts.
Behind the doctor there’s a 50-something business man in a white mock-t. Who the hell wears mock-tees anymore? Actually my dad does and I make fun of him too. Ugh. I hated those when they were in style in the 80s. And it’s cream colored. Oh god. I just noticed his belt is fabric and has bears on it. I think they’re Grateful Dead bears. I only know that because of Mel and KK. At DG they had those damn bears plastered everywhere in their rooms. I wouldn’t know a Grateful Dead song if they played it at my wedding.
The guy in front of me is about 50ish too but I can’t really see his features. He’s like me though and takes advantage of the extra space in the empty seat next to him. I take that back, we’re not alike at all. He’s got a little spiral notepad he’s writing on, tearing off sheets and crumpling them. Dude, get a 21st century notebook.
First class isn’t full at all. Out of 12 seats only half are taken. The guy across the isle from me is, wait for it... in his 50s. I’m on the flight of middle aged, white men. He’s got his laptop out. He’s probably pretending to do work like me because neither of us can get a signal and we both know it. He looks like he’d be an engineer. Earlier I saw him reading documents that looked like engineering drafts.
The last person in the forward cabin who is actually seated in the 1st row is a service member, full BDUs. I saw him out at the gate and again as he passed me to go to his seat. After the cabin doors closed the flight attendant escorted him up to first class. I’m sure they do that a lot but the gesture made me appreciate the goodness in people. It also made me feel grateful to be an American (press play on Proud to Be an American), that I was adopted and naturalized as a US citizen. Granted if I weren’t adopted I’d never know how good or bad my life is in comparison but the thought of it helps to keep my massive ego in check. But I’ll save the whole “I was adopted” story for another post.
Back to the serviceman. He’s just a kid – maybe mid-20s. If he weren’t in the military he’s probably end up just like one of the 50-somethings sitting in first class with him. Hell, he still might and I hope he lives long enough to do so.
On a flight back from Negril, Jamaica almost exactly a year ago I met another service member at the airport. Steve McCarthy. I bought him a beer and told him he could share my table. Before you start thinking I’m a do-gooder, everyone in the bar bought the guy drinks. My table just happened to have an empty seat. We started talking and he said he had 5 days off so he was gonna go live it up in Vegas. He’s like 22. I asked stupid civilian questions like, “What’s it really like over there?” as if he could ever explain it, especially at an airport bar. He eventually started to tell me about what he did. He was part of the squad that deactivates IUDs à la Hurt Locker although I never saw the movie so I can’t say for sure. A couple of things stuck with me from that day though. He said they tricked out the tank or whatever it’s called with an espresso maker, iPad dock and toaster oven. I thought that was very iM.A.S.H. of them. When I asked what service members need/want the most in care packages over there he said, much to my surprise, socks. White tube socks. “You can’t imagine what having a pair of clean, soft, cushy tube socks does for you out there.” It makes sense. I just kept thinking, “I’m talking to his kid and in 7 days he could be dead.” I would never know and maybe not care. The point wasn’t the actual loss but the realization of the randomness & finality of life with everyone, not just people you love and care about. Anyhow, being me I hooked him up with some shows and Vegas stuff. He had a good time. I still get emails once in a while from him. Reminds me, I should send him one when I get settled in. I am sad for the day when I haven’t gotten an email from him in a while and realize why.
Back to the serviceman. He’s just a kid – maybe mid-20s. If he weren’t in the military he’s probably end up just like one of the 50-somethings sitting in first class with him. Hell, he still might and I hope he lives long enough to do so.
On a flight back from Negril, Jamaica almost exactly a year ago I met another service member at the airport. Steve McCarthy. I bought him a beer and told him he could share my table. Before you start thinking I’m a do-gooder, everyone in the bar bought the guy drinks. My table just happened to have an empty seat. We started talking and he said he had 5 days off so he was gonna go live it up in Vegas. He’s like 22. I asked stupid civilian questions like, “What’s it really like over there?” as if he could ever explain it, especially at an airport bar. He eventually started to tell me about what he did. He was part of the squad that deactivates IUDs à la Hurt Locker although I never saw the movie so I can’t say for sure. A couple of things stuck with me from that day though. He said they tricked out the tank or whatever it’s called with an espresso maker, iPad dock and toaster oven. I thought that was very iM.A.S.H. of them. When I asked what service members need/want the most in care packages over there he said, much to my surprise, socks. White tube socks. “You can’t imagine what having a pair of clean, soft, cushy tube socks does for you out there.” It makes sense. I just kept thinking, “I’m talking to his kid and in 7 days he could be dead.” I would never know and maybe not care. The point wasn’t the actual loss but the realization of the randomness & finality of life with everyone, not just people you love and care about. Anyhow, being me I hooked him up with some shows and Vegas stuff. He had a good time. I still get emails once in a while from him. Reminds me, I should send him one when I get settled in. I am sad for the day when I haven’t gotten an email from him in a while and realize why.
Great read! Just a mention: it's the amazing TIM Lefebvre from NYC on bass.....
ReplyDeleteGreat catch Linda! Thanks for the correction.
ReplyDelete