Planes, trains and automobiles….

The US Air thingy yesterday…. pretty remarkable… In spite of the wonderful job of the Captain – who’s drawing praise from everyone (passengers, FAA, Mayor of NY) I don’t think I’d ever set foot on a plane again…

I remember once – flying into Tampa, about fifteen minutes out there was a pretty darn loud explosion.. First officer immediately came outta the cabin – went past us to inspect the engine on the left side… still flew pretty decent… as we were set to land, we circled.. I pointed down to the ground, told whatshername “you see all those fire trucks lined up?... they’re for us.” (She was perhaps an even bigger wimp than I when flying.) All ended well, normal landing, but for this white-knuckled flyer – that one about did me in.

Trains. I was thinking about the word serendipity. We’ve talked “fun things”, “fun song lyrics”, “fun words.” Liketa add that one to the list. Finding something whenya ain’t looking for something. Serendipity. Hell, it's just fun to say. I’ve not been a prolific dater – but – have found there’s a casino nearby with an antique train car that (to me) is an absolutely wonderful place to meet someone the first time.. (yes, talking the internet thing.) It’s quiet, it’s quaint, it’s remarkably decorated – it’s a ‘period piece’ – and it’s near all kindsa activities.

But… it ain’t been serendipitous – in spite of quite a few second, third, twelth dates with ones I’ve met there.. I could never find a four leaf clover – but I’ve seen people rollover in the grass and say “hey, LOOK!”.. So, I’ma thinkin’ mebbe the train car ain’t sucha great idea any longer…

Automobiles. I guess I don’t pay attention to the local news/weather enough. GD snowstorm this morning. Huh? It’s snowing? Fortunately, my peepers peeped open three hours before time to be at work – so I slid in waaaay early… absorbed the stares, horns, curses of the (what I call) idiots that blazed past me.. and I made it.

I’m so very thankful for the many years I got to spend in and around airplanes. Seen many a celeb, many a different kinda aircraft (to stand on the ground right next to a 747 one asks “howinthehell can that thing get off the ground?”)… Met so many good buds in working for several different airlines… and even work where I work now due to my airline days – and the suggestion of my hiring by a former fellow airline worker.

Trains. As a kid – we cousins occasionally traveled across Missouri. Twas back in the day when “unaccompanied minor” was not a skeery thing… Jeff City to Independence, MO.. hooking up with cousins, aunts, uncles. Nifty mems…

Cars… gosh, we’ve all got car stories.. hell.. this blog is named after one.. Among mine are: spilling a gallon of orange (yes orange) paint in the back seat of an old Mercury I owned.. my very first car having it’s wiring catch on fire – and I cringed as the Fire Department used this humongous crow bar thing to obliterate the hood – open it, and douse the fire. My that 1961 Chevrolet Biscayne rest in peace…. All the dates, trips, kids with “are we there yet, are we there yet?... Whatshername peeing into a 3 lb coffee can and not spilling a drop as we scooted down I-70..

Planes, trains and automobiles – they move me. As did the movie. Two of my favorites actors – both John’s – checked out way too early. Belushi and Candy. I loved the movie. Grumpy Steve Martin serendipitously found ‘heart’ after he’d finally given John Candy a chance.

Thinka our lives without planes, trains and automobiles. I adore ‘em. They move me, so to speak. So how bout it? A date? We meet in the (GD) train car, drive our automobile to the airport – and fly away forever and ever. Or, mebbe something will appear serendipitously…. I’m the baby, gotta love me. Love, Victurd