Oh Mr. Lindberg…
I am flying over the Atlantic as I reach for my book. My thoughts are “I will finish reading tonight”. A thick book, the size I generally shy away from. It’s exciting to finish this biography of Charles A. Lindbergh, the father of aviation, while flying over to Europe….This is serendipitous to me. I settle into my seat, happy my travel agent Lissete has booked me an emergency exit row….ahhhh leg room.
While searching for the overhead light switch, I look around and notice how old and run down this plane is. The luggage compartment in front of me is sealed with duct tape. I pull the seat jacket open to see that this is a 767 plane. Wondering if Lindbergh had anything to do with the design of this type of air ship, I continue to take in the ancientness of the plane. Still no luck with the lights, I ask the flight attendant for some help…having not figured out herself, she asks another attendant for help. With the help of a third, they come to the conclusion that the bulbs must be burnt out. Great…guess Lindbergh will have to wait.
The book, by A Scott Berg, has captivated me. While clearing out my father’s home, I found this wonderful treasure. My father, a well-read man, and world traveler himself, is fighting last stages of emphysema…basically his lungs are giving up and he won’t be returning home. It was time for my 2 brothers, sister and I to close it down. Immediately I was drawn to the book on his shelf and I have not been able to put it down. A marvelous, intriguing, and sometimes controversial man, Charles August Lindbergh was definitely a “one of a kind”. What he accomplished for himself as well as bringing the world together, in a unique time in history, was rare to say the least. The tears poured from my eyes while reading as he landed his plane in that historic flight to Paris. The out-pouring of love and excitement felt from around the world was completely overwhelming to me, especially in our current time of confusion, fear and unhappiness.
The flight attendant approaches me inquiring if I want chicken or pasta. I settle on the chicken. As she sets the tray on my table I observe the food and thought…is this for real, is this food even edible? The lettuce is wilted and the chicken looks like the worst of all TV dinners. I wonder to myself, when did air travel become so disgusting? As a child, I loved flying and as an adult …even more. For my favorite possession has become my United States Passport. I am on my third! Looking around the plane, I reflect on Charles Lindbergh once again, and think to myself…” what went wrong?” I remember as a little boy, traveling with my family, all dressed up in a coat and tie, the first time we boarded a 747, an awesome experience. Another was back in the early 80′s when my father was flying on the Concorde and we were allowed to walk him to his seat and inspect this rocket ship of a plane. Wow…times have changed. The corporate executive’s excuses lately seem to be safety …safety…safety. Looking around, safety and comfort is the last thing I feel.
Time for a bathroom break. As I walk on up the aisle, again I look at the roughness of the plane. The seats, the carpet, even the flight attendants look old and worn. I make it to the bathroom and the good news is I can actually stand and take a pee. As I am a tall man, most of my peeing in the” Lavatories” on planes is usually me bending down as to fit in the space. Looking around I see more duct tape in this part of the plane as well. Thinking to myself, how did Charles pee on his historic 37 hour flight to Paris?
I’ve always liked the American Airlines planes, with their metal outer shell and their whole Image has been one of beauty and awe for me. Not anymore!!! Walking back to my seat I remember a conversation with a dear friend that has worked for American Airlines for years. “The employees of American are just not happy and feel jaded by the corporate executives” he screamed. These executives are constantly claiming company poverty and yet their salaries are beyond the imaginable. Now the rumor is that they are going to look at bankruptcy…after ordering a bunch of new planes. So my friend suggests the game that they are playing and the government will probably allow. Spend all the money on new planes, file bankruptcy and then resurrect the company on the united Sates Governments and employees dime. I think to myself…what happened to Integrity in Capitalism?
After arriving at my Destination in Como, Italy, I share my experience with a friend and my great disappointment with American Airlines. For my ticket was not cheap. The cost definitely did not reflect the nasty experience I had to endure. My friend Mary arrived form JFK airport and shared she chose Alitalia for her flight, reveling in the beauty and comfort of her airship… being shiny and new.
I think about this past Christmas holiday I spent with my cousin Linda, in Santa Monica, California. I decided to stay a few more days. I called Lissete, my trusted travel agent to make the change. Lissete informed me that the change fees on my current American Airlines ticket would be outrageous and suggested I purchase a new, one- way ticket home on Virgin America, which now has flights between DFW and LAX, and would be considerably cheaper. I said “go for it! Thanks”. Virgin America was an awesome and amazing experience; a young, hip, and fun airline with an amazing internal chat room on the plane. Ironically, I chatted with a beautiful Italian which I was able to spend time with and show around Dallas.
Mary and I discuss and share more airline stories. I silently wonder to myself if what some say is true about our country…that we have become so blind with corporate greed… that we are becoming like a third world country. I hope not… but I guess time will tell.
That night in my hotel room fighting jet lag, I finally get back to finishing my book. Silently, I thank Mr. Lindbergh for all he has done for our country and the world; for sharing his love of aviation and science, his literary gifts as well and all his tireless efforts to the endangered species… and for his endless fighting for environmental issues affecting our planet. Thank you Charles for what you have shown me through your life and this book. You have been an exemplary specimen and a blessing to humankind shedding new inspiration for my soul.
-Scott F. Carlson