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Being the random thoughts of a middle aged overeducated physician, father, and citizen. James M. Small MD PhD. Send me a reply to jmsmall @ mycap.org.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
This was indeed an interesting weekend! Through the College of American Pathologists, I do sometimes get into the news as a doctor. But this weekend I was part of a national news story on an airline flight. We took off from Denver a little late and had an uneventful flight, at least until the captain came on and said, "Weather is bad in Chicago and we need to divert to Milwaukee. We'll gas up, wait for the weather to clear, and get you back to Chicago, probably a couple of hours late." So we landed.
Next thing we knew, we were sitting on the tarmac. Waiting. Captain came back on, said we had some mechanical difficulties and he would get back to us. More waiting. Finished novel, Sharpe's Tiger, pretty good really. It's about a british redcoat in India in 1799. Captain back on, says we have blown one generator and the plane won't be taking off. Also, by the way, Milwaukee doesn't have baggage handling equipment or a gate that can handle a 777 aircraft and they're working on it.
More waiting, cat naps, can of Canada Dry Club Soda with Lime. Thank goodness my bride, Denise, told me to take some mixed nuts on the plane so I had something good to eat.
"There is one gate that can handle the plane. An Air France plane is there right now, and we'll let you know when they move. Hopefully it won't be long now. Thank you so much for you patience and understanding." Actually thank goodness the plane was only half full or there could have been violence.
"Well, the Air France plane appears to be having mechanical difficulties and they can't move it. Also the crew is having some kind of problem with Customs. Thank you again for your patience." It's now 0330.
Finally they got a portable staircase out and unloaded us. I staggered through the airport and found that the buses, full, had already left. However there was a white stretch Lincoln Navigator limo packed with people that had one more seat. It even reclined. Cat napped to Chicago, arrived at O'Hare about 0630 and at my hotel at 0700, just in time to meet my staff person to prepare for the meeting of the Council on Membership and Public Affairs.
That was my weekend. How was yours?
Next thing we knew, we were sitting on the tarmac. Waiting. Captain came back on, said we had some mechanical difficulties and he would get back to us. More waiting. Finished novel, Sharpe's Tiger, pretty good really. It's about a british redcoat in India in 1799. Captain back on, says we have blown one generator and the plane won't be taking off. Also, by the way, Milwaukee doesn't have baggage handling equipment or a gate that can handle a 777 aircraft and they're working on it.
More waiting, cat naps, can of Canada Dry Club Soda with Lime. Thank goodness my bride, Denise, told me to take some mixed nuts on the plane so I had something good to eat.
"There is one gate that can handle the plane. An Air France plane is there right now, and we'll let you know when they move. Hopefully it won't be long now. Thank you so much for you patience and understanding." Actually thank goodness the plane was only half full or there could have been violence.
"Well, the Air France plane appears to be having mechanical difficulties and they can't move it. Also the crew is having some kind of problem with Customs. Thank you again for your patience." It's now 0330.
Finally they got a portable staircase out and unloaded us. I staggered through the airport and found that the buses, full, had already left. However there was a white stretch Lincoln Navigator limo packed with people that had one more seat. It even reclined. Cat napped to Chicago, arrived at O'Hare about 0630 and at my hotel at 0700, just in time to meet my staff person to prepare for the meeting of the Council on Membership and Public Affairs.
That was my weekend. How was yours?
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