Come Fly With Me! 

Some years ago I did a lot of speaking events and I especially liked telling funny stories at the beginning of my talks. My son, Aaron thinks I should share some of those stories with my readers. So here’s one from way back! 

First of all, I don’t like to fly. But here I was on a flight to Atlanta for a conference, along with my cousin and a writer friend. Our assigned seats were way in the back of the plane. Not a good thing to my way of thinking. In case of emergency, would I be the last one off the plane? 

While waiting for final boarding, a man from the pit crew walked down the aisle and out the very back of the plane. Call me naïve, but I had no idea there was actually a door there. The problem is, there was no “click” that you expect to hear with a door firmly closing so I assumed he was coming back inside. No! He did not return! 

And just about that time the steward walked back to tell everyone to put away bags and prepare for takeoff. Being concerned about the possible open door in the back, I told the steward that I didn’t think that door was closed well. I thought he might check it but he totally ignored me and walked away. He came back a second time with the same announcement, mainly to my friend who had her laptop open. I repeated my concern about the door. Again, he acted like he didn’t even hear me and walked away. Well, so much for airline courtesy! 

Then the agitated steward returned a third time—yes, my friend still had her laptop open. He repeated his message and stood beside her aisle seat while she stored her laptop. And for the third time I urgently stated, “I don’t think that back door is closed!” Again, the steward walked away without a word but the gentleman sitting behind me leaned forward and said, “We’ll find out when we take off, won’t we?” 

True story! Now you know why no one wants to fly with me.