Bob's Corner
From our weekly issue dated June 24, 2009
It’s so much easier to fly via commercial carrier to visit family instead of driving there. Not much scenery though, but the time saved is incredible. Like two hours for a direct flight from Medford to LAX vs. 18 to 20 hours by car from Cave Junction to Carlsbad.
But I do not enjoy arrivals via aircraft. It seems impossible that those massive hunks of metal and plastic traveling so fast and with those tiny wheels can land safely. But they do.
Take-offs are OK; I don’t mind them. Jan likes take-offs and landings best, but not me. And I still don’t enjoy the pre-boarding inspections. You know, where you have to show your boarding pass and ID; take off your shoes and belt; get rid of anything metallic; take your PC out. I’m OK with it; just don’t enjoy it. Don’t like the guy with the rubber glove either.
Here’s a great question: Why -- after you’ve gone through “security” -- do the announcements continue about watching your luggage and not letting anyone give you something? Didn’t they come through “security” too. You’ve all been checked through; been deemed safe. So why do the warnings continue? I can’t figure it out.
On our most-recent trip we were lucky to fly from Medford to LAX, where our daughter, Vicki, picked us up for the car trip to North San Diego County. It’s an easier drive from LAX than from Lindbergh Field in San Diego, believe it or not. But for our return, seats for the flight we had planned to take from Santa Ana (Chong Wang Airport) filled at the last minute, so we knew that we’d never get aboard with our stand-by status.
This meant we had to scramble to catch an Alaska Airlines flight from San Diego to Portland. But we made it. Then we had a four-hour layover (boring) in the City of Roses airport before we could get a Horizon Air flight to Medford.
Still, I can’t complain (although I do) about flying stand-by. Overall, it’s a kick, especially that kid with the big feet behind me. Seriously, it’s always great to get home, and our four house cats were so glad that we made a purr-fect landing.
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