Witnessing the Unexpected

    Flying stand-by will improve your prayer-life.  My most bazaar happenstance occurred when I flew from Charlotte to Dayton, Ohio.  I planned to return on a Monday.  This was a bad choice.  For the return flight there were no seats available for the 11 a.m. flight.  So, I waited for the 2 p.m. Charlotte flight: again no seats.  I paced back and forth.  The ticket person checked various alternate routes and declared: “I don’t think you are going to get out of Dayton today!

    My heart sank.  Then her co-worker blurted out: “there is one way”.  I asked excitedly: “What’s that?” Well, two ladies just left here and we paid for their taxi ride to Cincinnati so they could catch a plane to Charlotte from there.”  My gambler instinct was aroused.  I grew up in; Cincinnati and knew it was a 52-mile cab ride.  I had 90 minutes to catch the Charlotte plane.  I was betting the taxi driver would be in a hurry.  My previous longest taxi ride was in New York City. I paid $20 to go five miles.  At the lengthy Dayton Airport I began to run, then, I slowed to a fast walk to avoid a heart attack.  I had an extreme sense of urgency to catch-up with ladies and the waiting cab.

    Walking at break-neck speed I realized I had no idea what these ladies looked like. Arriving at the taxi-stand began asking every lady if she was headed for Cincinnati.  This approach failed.  I began asking all the cabbies.  Finally, one driver said: “I’m waiting to take two women to the Cincinnati airport.” Then a young lady and a middle-aged lady approached.  In my most courteous manner I asked if I might ride with them.  The older lady immediately replied: “yes, if you will pay the tip.”  I was astonished at how fast she sized-up the situation.  I really had no choice.  I gratefully consented to the verbal contract to cover the gratuity. I reflected en route on the proper amount. $20? No too much. $10?  I justified this since I was not guaranteed a seat to reach Charlotte.

    As I sat in the taxi’s front passenger seat I watched the scenery flash-by at 65 mph on Interstate 75.  I wanted the cabbie to drive faster, but said nothing.  My anxiety level was climbing.  What if I missed the connection?

    Ironically, the younger lady in the back seat worked as a teacher in Avery County, North Carolina at the same school where I was scheduled to soon be a student teacher.  The older lady was a California realtor headed for Charlotte. I gave my $10-bill to the cabbie and he seemed satisfied.

    This time I really ran to the U.S. Air ticket counter.  Thankfully, I only had one carry-on bag to lug up the stairs.  The happy reply to my anxious inquiry was: “there are 14-seats available.”  I was the fifth person in the stand-by line-up. Once safely aboard I reflected on the adventure-filled story I would tell my wife when I arrived at home. She did find my story entertaining, but was glad to hear it but not to experience the anxiety.

    Her last adventure was in Houston.  We waited for three planes, each an hour apart.  Finally, we succumbed to our hunger pangs.  We ate $5 bowls of soup with airline pilots and flight attendants seated next to us. We returned and the airline ticket-takers eventually took pity on the anxiously waiting older coupe and squeezed us on the next flight. We were given a higher priority based on human compassion.

    My most recent adventure included an all-day attempt to reach Tampa from Charlotte. The contact person said all the flights were booked full, but I surmised surely someone would cancel during the course of the five scheduled flights. Wrong! It was winter.  Everyone was headed for the warmer Florida climate.  This consideration was left out of my decision-making process.  I finally gave up.  Ironically, I could have flown early the next morning;