Chapter 15 - Three Bags Full

Seat 1 B - Rochester to Philly - talk about hitting every airpocket!!!
Lucky Don - he's in seat 1A - and gets the honor of being the first seat mate since I've started writing this book - to have to watch me get sick. But - he said I was good (?) - he had apparently been on another flight once and the girl got sick all over him! I guess life is relative - and relatively speaking - I was good as I filled not one, not two - but three bags!!

I digress.....
As it stands now - this chapter on Don is the first one I actually wrote down on paper. I've been telling folks for over 2 years now that I'm writing this book - but until this flight, other than notes, I had not written a page. So thanks Don for inspiring me! (on the handwritten page that I'm transcribing here I wrote... it helps that I am currently on my next flight after leaving Don in Philadelphia - I'm on my way to Chicago - and no one is in the seat beside me - so prime time to write!)

Coincidently - and as you know by now - it's only because of the conversations - I know Don't daughter and others in his circle of colleagues. And to think I had to shove (well not actually shove) but kindly tell an elderly lady that she was in my seat. If not for that - this chapter would be quite different - and who knows - I may still be waiting for that divine inspiration to get this book started.

Thanks Don, and thanks to the lady that moved!

back to Don.....
In less than 5 minutes we realized our connections - starting with small talk of bad roads and him telling his wife not to go shopping. Then a quick mention of icy roads last Wednesday where his wife didn't go to practice for community theater. Then my mention of my involvement with arts-in-education - and Don saying he's part of an arts organization and well....I met his daughter last summer - and so the story started.

Don't doing fascinating stuff - as a consultant - he's involved with coaching principals and leaders around the country. He's also very involved (and proud) with his daughter's work - helping students learn through the arts. In his spare time Don mentors a young boy in the city who is being raised by his grandmother. Don also performs in community theater!

The great thing about Don is his passion and sincerity for the work he does. You see the excitement in his eyes as he talks about the various areas he's involved in.

Glad he could handle my weak stomach!!