Clear sailing? updated

Home } such as it is } Clear sailing? *updated*

We’re on an Alaska Airlines 737, waiting to taxi out. The skies are clear. We’re flying into Portland, not icy Salt Lake City. Everything should go off without a hitch.

We shall see . . .

… We’re in Portland. They canceled our scheduled flight and put us on one departing 25 minutes later. Supposedly, we should preboard in 5 minutes.

***

We preboarded 20 minutes later, then spent at least another half hour in the aircraft cabin waiting for them to de-ice the wings. I sat next to a big man who wanted to use his cell phone. He reeeally wanted to use that cell phone. They made him shut it, of course, but the longer we waited for that de-ice job, the more agitated he became. He was one of these loud, angry, polite guys. You know, the kind that hollers, “MAY I PLEASE ASK A QUESTION?” and you’re wondering if he’s packing a glass knife. He and the steward went back and forth arguing about the cell phone, until finally the steward said, “We can arrange for you to be able to use your cell phone, sir.”

“And leave me behind?”

I was shocked. What insight! Up to that point, I’d thought if IQ points were sticks, this guy wouldn’t have been able to make a fire.

“Yes, sir.”

“Fergit it, then.”

Uh, yeah.

But we’re here. In Medford. We made it. With all our luggage. We’re back at the Rogue Regency and we have 8:30 reservation for their restaurant. That’s how good their restaurant is — amazing, huh?

I suppose we could have driven back home tonight, three hours in the dark on winding, icy roads, but crashing here seemed the wiser option.

Oh, if I haven’t said it yet,