06-22-2006
09:18 PM
4 Loves
A couple of things . . . . . .
I used to make at least one flight a month from Reno to Portland ( a long distant relationship) and I thoroughly enjoyed the
humor emanating from the cockpit as well as the microphone of the flight attendants. I was scheduled to retrun from
Portland, Oregon to Reno Nevada on 9/11 . . . . when my then significant other told me that a very strange and curious event
had occurred that morning. We tuned the TV to a local Oregon news station ( we were in a beach house in Lincoln City, OR)
and the images i saw on the screen I first believed to be from a Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzennegar movie. But no . . . . is
was really happenning. Needless to say, the Portland Airport was shut down, and I could not expect a flight until the following
Friday or Saturday. Many people had chosen to drive. Me being a stubborn American (Vietnam era Vet) said no . . . I would fly
as soon as the airport opened up (with a great amount of extra security, I might add).
So I immediately called in work and THEY told me I would not be back on time. But I did get Southwest flight back to Reno on
Friday (maybe Saturday). I am happy to report that even thought the plane was not full, there were many others who, like myself
decided that we would not cave in to terrorism. . . . . . . and the Pilots and the Flight Attendants (God Bless them . . .) still maintained
their sense of humor. . . . . . . I'm not sure is this was the same flight, but an announcement was made that there was an elderly
gentleman on board celebrating his 80th Birthday AND his first airline flight. . . . . . . so we all applauded by clapping and hooting,
and then, when the noise subsided, we were further informed that he was sitting in the right seat of the cockpit!!!!!
I will never forget that . . . . .
Jim Nettleton
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