Well, I’m on my way home. My travel started yesterday the 17th in Afghanistan with a 2 hour flight to Dubai, UAE. After enjoying the airport in Dubai for 11 hours I boarded a plane to Dulles, VA. I slept like a rock for a good portion of that 14 hour ride. My seat was on one side of the center section with five seats in the row. There were only two of us in that section so the only question was which one of us was going to get to lie out over the remaining empty seats. Not wanting to seem un-gentlemanly, I deferred to the lady at the other end.
Her name was Victoria T. I’m sure she had a last name, but she didn’t give it and I didn’t ask. She was a very friendly young lady and before the flight attendants had served our meal she and I had already struck up a conversation. She asked me where I was from because she said she could hear a “southern” accent. Of course, being the Texan that I am I was glad that she asked. I hate to ask people where they are from because as the Texas wisdom goes- “If they are from Texas they will tell you soon enough, and if they aren’t, you don’t want to embarrass them”.
Since she asked first, and I could definitely hear an accent that was decidedly NOT from the southern United States, I decided to take the bait and ask her to reciprocate. Turns out she was from Nigeria. Although, she had been born in Alabama, she moved to Nigeria when she was young and lived there until she went to college in, of all places, Alabama. A Pharmacist by profession, she had been to Dubai on vacation where she met with her brother and sister. Of course, I told her about my Fifty 50 plans and she was very supportive. I gave her the website address and she gave me her email address to keep her updated.
On the flight from Dulles to Houston I sat next to Alex. His first words to me were to express his discontent with being in the middle seat of three. Nobody likes the sardine seat as he called it. Actually, after he explained that his mileage points had been affected by the merger between Continental and United Airlines, I understood his disappointment. He normally gets to pick his seat assignment, but today, he wasn’t able to. Turns out we had a great conversation.
Alex was from Utah. Yes, he is a Mormon, but no, he doesn’t have multiple wives. He has 4 children, but spends lots of time on the road…airlines… and is gone most of each week for business. Like many of us he is good at what he does, but what he does keeps him from what he loves: his family. His flight today, like mine, was taking him home. I shared my Fifty 50 plans with him and like everyone I have discussed it with he was very supportive. I AM going to fly 50 planes in one day, and I am going to raise at least 50 thousand dollars for charity. Life is good!
Now I’m in Houston, Texas. I’ve had a 4 hour layover to catch a one hour flight to Killeen so my lovely bride, Juli, can meet me at the airport and drive me the 20 minutes to get home. From here I could drive to my house in only 4 and a half hours, but then I wouldn’t have had the time to write this and talk to Juli, my brother Jamie, and several others on the phone. Now, I am finally about to board my flight to Killeen where Juli will be waiting for me. I am so ready to see her and I know she is ready to see me. Boarding call! It’s time to shut this down and get in line.
Her name was Victoria T. I’m sure she had a last name, but she didn’t give it and I didn’t ask. She was a very friendly young lady and before the flight attendants had served our meal she and I had already struck up a conversation. She asked me where I was from because she said she could hear a “southern” accent. Of course, being the Texan that I am I was glad that she asked. I hate to ask people where they are from because as the Texas wisdom goes- “If they are from Texas they will tell you soon enough, and if they aren’t, you don’t want to embarrass them”.
Since she asked first, and I could definitely hear an accent that was decidedly NOT from the southern United States, I decided to take the bait and ask her to reciprocate. Turns out she was from Nigeria. Although, she had been born in Alabama, she moved to Nigeria when she was young and lived there until she went to college in, of all places, Alabama. A Pharmacist by profession, she had been to Dubai on vacation where she met with her brother and sister. Of course, I told her about my Fifty 50 plans and she was very supportive. I gave her the website address and she gave me her email address to keep her updated.
On the flight from Dulles to Houston I sat next to Alex. His first words to me were to express his discontent with being in the middle seat of three. Nobody likes the sardine seat as he called it. Actually, after he explained that his mileage points had been affected by the merger between Continental and United Airlines, I understood his disappointment. He normally gets to pick his seat assignment, but today, he wasn’t able to. Turns out we had a great conversation.
Alex was from Utah. Yes, he is a Mormon, but no, he doesn’t have multiple wives. He has 4 children, but spends lots of time on the road…airlines… and is gone most of each week for business. Like many of us he is good at what he does, but what he does keeps him from what he loves: his family. His flight today, like mine, was taking him home. I shared my Fifty 50 plans with him and like everyone I have discussed it with he was very supportive. I AM going to fly 50 planes in one day, and I am going to raise at least 50 thousand dollars for charity. Life is good!
Now I’m in Houston, Texas. I’ve had a 4 hour layover to catch a one hour flight to Killeen so my lovely bride, Juli, can meet me at the airport and drive me the 20 minutes to get home. From here I could drive to my house in only 4 and a half hours, but then I wouldn’t have had the time to write this and talk to Juli, my brother Jamie, and several others on the phone. Now, I am finally about to board my flight to Killeen where Juli will be waiting for me. I am so ready to see her and I know she is ready to see me. Boarding call! It’s time to shut this down and get in line.
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