New Traveler

Last week was the Garden City gig. That flight is nearly always interesting. On the flight out, there were only three passengers. The pilot had us all sit in the very back to balance the plane. I was in the next to the back, with a fellow in the back seat who was into technology. He spent the first part of the flight working on his lap top. Then he put it away and got out some type of handheld thing that he kept messing with and looking out the window. Now I am low technology on airplanes and am embroidering a dish towel and watching him out of the corner of my eye, trying to figure out what he is doing. WELL, I finally got it. He had a hand held GPS and was watching our location as we flew over Kansas. I think that qualifies as electronic device that is NOT allowed as it uses radio frequency airwaves. That annoyed me. I really wanted to instruct him on his illegal activities, but tamed my tongue and hoped he would get off in Dodge City, which he did.

The flight home was more fun. We had a 'first time' flyer. I pegged him at security. He just didn't understand the whole 'liquid and gel in the zip lock bag' thing. After all, he only had a small tube of toothpaste. I saved the day by giving him the zip lock bag I keep my phone charger in. Then he was all worried about where his suitcase was. He had checked it, but when he got on the plane and saw the pilots luggage in the front closet, thought his should have been there, too. He travel companion told him his suitcase was in the back of the plane, but he was still skeptical and asked the pilot when he boarded the plane. He chose a seat over the wing and shortly after take off realized that was a mistake, he couldn't see out the window. Remember this is the Garden City flight and we have lots of open seats. He quickly started checking out the view from other seats and found one to his satisfaction. He watched everything intently. When we landed he thanked the pilot for a great flight and then started worrying about where the suitcase was. He started to the back of the plane where they were unloading, but they stopped him and told him it would be at the luggage carousel. It was fun to see someone so excited. Generally people are just going through the motions.

Now Carolyn would have visited with him and found out where he was from and where he was going and what for.... and probably how many children he had and his net worth. I wish I had, but I just haven't mastered the art of small talk with strangers. I'll keep working on it.