As I go to sit in 9C - my seatmate is texting on her phone (that's the communication vehicle of the early 21st century! - I think I should start a new book to chronicle just the communication tools as I fly)
She looks up and comments - "I just had to tweet that - did you hear what they said? 'Rows 1 and higher you can now board' - why not - 'All rows' - it's not like there are negative seats - or maybe it's for the folks out on the wing or in the baggage compartment?"
From the start I like the way L.E. thinks.....out of the box!
Not being a twitter fan myself since my son refers to it as 'stalker' - I really have not explored it much and wonder how folks use it. So for L.E. (yes that's her name now - it's really something much longer and hard to pronounce as it's portugese and they blend the L and R sound somehow) - anyways - for L.E. she tweets things she finds funny in life - sometimes expanding and integrating her own thoughts to add that twist.
We're both on our way home - I'm tired after 2 full days training - so we both escape to the Jet Blue TVs - HGTV catches both of our attention first. Followed by Top Chef on Bravo.
Life is good - especially when we land at 7:15 instead of 7:40!!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
My First Soldier as a Seatmate!
My trip to New Mexico was short - got in late Thursday night, meetings all day Friday, then dinner and meetings again Saturday morning - then flying back home. Needless to say, I'm tired - but that feeling is quickly pushed aside when I sit down next to Foresha.
Foresha had just finished two weeks of training for the army - she can't wait to get home - to see her mom and 2 cats. What a treat for me to have her as my seatmate from Chicago to Rochester.
To start - she taught me more about the structure of the army than I remember learning - from Battalions, to Brigades to Units (did I get that right?). She's at the Battalion level - part of the logistics - for units across the country. I learned some more about how the reserves work - and I give her a lot of credit - she's finishing her RN degree, working part time and serving as a reserve. (I guess I won't complain for awhile about having too busy a schedule)
What struck me the most about Foresha was her insights and outlook of life. She inlisted in the army at her choice - hoping for a better life - and has no regrets. The army taught her a lot and gave her some confidence and guidance to grow and be whatever she wants. After she finishes her RN degree at Nazareth she plans on going on for her PhD in mental health. (again - small world - my son and I went to St John Fisher and I also taught as an adjunct at Nazareth) I know she'll go far and I hope to be there beside her as her friend.
She reflected back on the choices she's made and looking at some of her friends who are "on the street", overweight and no real ambitions - she should be very proud of her accomplishments.
I'm honored to have met Foresha. Can't wait to meet her mom.
Foresha had just finished two weeks of training for the army - she can't wait to get home - to see her mom and 2 cats. What a treat for me to have her as my seatmate from Chicago to Rochester.
To start - she taught me more about the structure of the army than I remember learning - from Battalions, to Brigades to Units (did I get that right?). She's at the Battalion level - part of the logistics - for units across the country. I learned some more about how the reserves work - and I give her a lot of credit - she's finishing her RN degree, working part time and serving as a reserve. (I guess I won't complain for awhile about having too busy a schedule)
What struck me the most about Foresha was her insights and outlook of life. She inlisted in the army at her choice - hoping for a better life - and has no regrets. The army taught her a lot and gave her some confidence and guidance to grow and be whatever she wants. After she finishes her RN degree at Nazareth she plans on going on for her PhD in mental health. (again - small world - my son and I went to St John Fisher and I also taught as an adjunct at Nazareth) I know she'll go far and I hope to be there beside her as her friend.
She reflected back on the choices she's made and looking at some of her friends who are "on the street", overweight and no real ambitions - she should be very proud of her accomplishments.
I'm honored to have met Foresha. Can't wait to meet her mom.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Seat in the Middle
The dreaded middle seat.... 11E.
On my left, in the window seat is a lady flying from Albuquerque to Chicago to visit her daughter. We did have too much of a conversation - but she is originally from Buffalo, lived for a bit in Philadelphia and a few otehr spots before Rio Rancho (the expanding suburb of Albuquerque).
On my left, a guy from Taos, NM - heading home to his mom in New Jersey for her 70th birthday. How wonderful - I know she will be delighted to see him. They are then going to head to Maryland to see his sister and her dogs.
I did not get either of the names here - so let's call them Jim and Carol.
Jim has been outwest since he was 18 - living several places in Colorado - always near skiing or golfing. In Toas now he does the irrigation for a golf course. For me - he sounds like someone who has a great life - enjoying the pleasures that his workplace can provide outside of his working hours. He also told me of a small town in Colorado he lived in a few years back - population 50. Yes fifty. I guess I can't imagine a town so small - he said it was great.
Carol got in on the conversation - as we discussed some history in Philadelphia. The historic streets there really had madse an impression on me a few years back. Jim mentioned he thought some place in NY had the oldest street in the US - (just did a quick google search and there's a toss-up between Huguenot St in New Paltz NY, Elfreth's Alley in Philly, or Leyden Steet in Plymouth - depends on the criteria you use.
Hope "Carol" and "Jim" enjoy their visits!
On my left, in the window seat is a lady flying from Albuquerque to Chicago to visit her daughter. We did have too much of a conversation - but she is originally from Buffalo, lived for a bit in Philadelphia and a few otehr spots before Rio Rancho (the expanding suburb of Albuquerque).
On my left, a guy from Taos, NM - heading home to his mom in New Jersey for her 70th birthday. How wonderful - I know she will be delighted to see him. They are then going to head to Maryland to see his sister and her dogs.
I did not get either of the names here - so let's call them Jim and Carol.
Jim has been outwest since he was 18 - living several places in Colorado - always near skiing or golfing. In Toas now he does the irrigation for a golf course. For me - he sounds like someone who has a great life - enjoying the pleasures that his workplace can provide outside of his working hours. He also told me of a small town in Colorado he lived in a few years back - population 50. Yes fifty. I guess I can't imagine a town so small - he said it was great.
Carol got in on the conversation - as we discussed some history in Philadelphia. The historic streets there really had madse an impression on me a few years back. Jim mentioned he thought some place in NY had the oldest street in the US - (just did a quick google search and there's a toss-up between Huguenot St in New Paltz NY, Elfreth's Alley in Philly, or Leyden Steet in Plymouth - depends on the criteria you use.
Hope "Carol" and "Jim" enjoy their visits!
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