Oh Lord, Stuck in Charlotte

Oh Lord, stuck in Charlotte

(Sung to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Oh Lord, Stuck in Lodi Again”)

Fourteen people missed the flight tonight. That’s eleven besides me, Shirley, and our grandson Anthony. And that’s just one flight – US Airways flight 2036 from CLT to SYR (Charlotte, NC to Syracuse, NY), January 5, 2014. The reason? Fog. Once before in my 46 years of flying was I unable to see the ground until seconds before we landed. That was in November 1979 on a flight from Dallas to Denver. We landed in a blinding snowstorm and the landing strip appeared out of the whiteness.

Now I’m sitting in a rocking chair in the Charlotte Douglas International Airport people watching and waiting for the next flight to ‘Cuse. Some folks stride through, some saunter, and some sprint. I want to tell them to take their time because the flight they’re rushing to probably left already. One man was in such a hurry he almost got run over by a shuttle. After he stopped short for that, he started his mad dash again only to trip over a lady’s luggage.

Another observation – pilots and flight crews. They are a fascinating, eclectic bunch. I watched young and mature, clean cut and bohemian, business-like, techie, and “It’s-a-living” types. One young pilot had a portable guitar as part of his luggage but most had the standard carry-on baggage. I did not see one woman in the cross section I observed.

I’m also having thoughts about my choice of travel. I’ve flown five times, six counting this time, in the past year. We drove from Utica to Columbia one time in February 2013 and that was a grueling non-stop drive that left everyone worn out and ill. Two earthy looking folks passed me a few minutes ago in a rush. They looked terribly unhappy like they wished they were catching a train instead of a plane or riding in their electric car or bicycling to their destination. I’m thinking seriously about taking a train for my next trip South. Yes, it’s slower and I will lose some time with my grandchildren, but it is much more environmentally friendly and relaxing that an airplane.

I know there are some destinations that you must fly to, like international or cross country. But I haven’t taken a journey like that in years. On the other hand, I think I would love to drift on an ocean liner to a European or South American country.

Happy Trails to You!