Anton doesn’t talk to me! Great scene! Now for something completely different! Many years ago, probably like 20, I arrived at SeaTac about 7 hours before my overnight flight home. I got my ticket and asked the ticket lady is there a restaurant outside the airport but close by. Airports have been like malls for years now. I wanted a real restaurant. She directed me to a place across the street, its name had something to do with coins, Three Coins maybe. I dragged my luggage across the street, opened the door and instantly fell in love! It was dark, but not dank, all the chairs were nice red leather and each seat at the bar had tall wall that wrapped around you, probably 4 feet past my head once I sat down! In the bar were tables which had floor to ceiling red leather walls on three sides of the table. Ultimate in privacy! I sat there stunned just imagining Frank, Sammy, and the rest of the pack walking in all smiles saying hi to everyone, having a great few hours and leaving nice tips! I think I only ever made it back one more time and well, it was still magical! Remember I did say now for something completely different! 😀
This is why I take my own wheelchair with me on the few occasions I fly. I can usually walk but my disability is unpredictable, as are flight delays and airport distances if gates change. Every commercial flight of 100 or more people is required to transport mobility aids for free. The scary part is that they're not liable for damage.
Was in a couple of airports this past week. I never saw one of these things, but how soulless to plop a physically challenged person into an “automatic” device and have no immediate resource for backup or support if it goes sideways (or not at all). So happy you and another were there to help!
During COVID, when people would call the airport to ask about changing flights, I'd suggest to them that if they were willing/able, coming to the ticket counter to have an agent help them would be the most expedient option. At that point, call times were easily running 8-10 hours. People were stunned that something so obvious was still even an option. Solutionism will be our downfall!
Love this essay and good for you for helping the woman in the wheelchair. I too have watched British people rolling cheese down a hill. Funny Brits! I so enjoy reading your work. As a Washingtonian, I can visualize many of the places you have talked about. Cheers!
Anton doesn’t talk to me! Great scene! Now for something completely different! Many years ago, probably like 20, I arrived at SeaTac about 7 hours before my overnight flight home. I got my ticket and asked the ticket lady is there a restaurant outside the airport but close by. Airports have been like malls for years now. I wanted a real restaurant. She directed me to a place across the street, its name had something to do with coins, Three Coins maybe. I dragged my luggage across the street, opened the door and instantly fell in love! It was dark, but not dank, all the chairs were nice red leather and each seat at the bar had tall wall that wrapped around you, probably 4 feet past my head once I sat down! In the bar were tables which had floor to ceiling red leather walls on three sides of the table. Ultimate in privacy! I sat there stunned just imagining Frank, Sammy, and the rest of the pack walking in all smiles saying hi to everyone, having a great few hours and leaving nice tips! I think I only ever made it back one more time and well, it was still magical! Remember I did say now for something completely different! 😀
What a beautiful piece. And yes, 'solutionism.' Seems like every other ad on TV is for something we never knew we needed. . . and don't.
Gotta love that visual flair
This is why I take my own wheelchair with me on the few occasions I fly. I can usually walk but my disability is unpredictable, as are flight delays and airport distances if gates change. Every commercial flight of 100 or more people is required to transport mobility aids for free. The scary part is that they're not liable for damage.
Was in a couple of airports this past week. I never saw one of these things, but how soulless to plop a physically challenged person into an “automatic” device and have no immediate resource for backup or support if it goes sideways (or not at all). So happy you and another were there to help!
More people should express their complete thoughts..our talking heads have a lot of insight if we can hear it…I like how you express humanity…
During COVID, when people would call the airport to ask about changing flights, I'd suggest to them that if they were willing/able, coming to the ticket counter to have an agent help them would be the most expedient option. At that point, call times were easily running 8-10 hours. People were stunned that something so obvious was still even an option. Solutionism will be our downfall!
wow - so good and so much to unpack within... thank you, Sherman
Thanks, Betsy.
You covered a lot of ground well and honorably, thanks.
Thanks, Weston.
Thank you Sherman for helping her. You are a good man.
I try!
Yes to all of this! And the video had me laughing out loud. I might have to watch the movie. Thank you for helping that woman.
Thanks, Simon. Silicon Valley is a TV series, six seasons of hilarity!
Cheese rolling is good entertainment but wait until you see the flaming tar barrel races at Ottery St Mary at Halloween.
I gotta look that up!
p.s. Ottery St Mary is the birthplace of another poet: Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
https://youtu.be/qbW3KkqNklY?si=Z04zPqsE-ZDKKvTI My mistake, it's a 5th Novermber (Guy Fawkes) ritual, not Halloween.
Love this essay and good for you for helping the woman in the wheelchair. I too have watched British people rolling cheese down a hill. Funny Brits! I so enjoy reading your work. As a Washingtonian, I can visualize many of the places you have talked about. Cheers!
Thank you, Margaret.
Thank you for helping that woman, Sherman!
I ask for wheelchair assistance in airports and got one of those wheelchairs last time I traveled. It worked for me -- but was very slow.
Thanks, Liz.
You’re also breathing in molecules that Aristotle breathed. At least one, every breath.
Awesome!
Love it! Your gift for callbacks and making punchlines land harder is enviable. If I were you, I'd give up my day job and try writing for a living.