High Alert – Steffie Flies

We’re under a High Alert from the Department of Homeland Security. Hopefully, police and security agencies know what to do, but for us mere mortals there are few clues.

The official word is, “Go about your business.” Great. It’s like being told not to think about an elephant in pajamas. What else could you possibly think of after that?

If you boil this alert down to its essence, the only effect it’s having on the general public is to scare us. If we’re not supposed to do anything different, what other benefit is there?

Meanwhile, Steffie had reservations to fly to Florida and visit my folks. This was going to be our first experience with Southwest, after switching my frequent flier allegiance to them a few months ago.

Helaine and I never talked about it, but there was no point when we considered changing Steffie’s plans. I feel confident in the safety of air travel. Beyond that, it would seem a Southwest 737 from Hartford to West Palm Beach via Tampa would be a very unlikely target.

Speaking of Southwest, the report back from the airport was mostly positive. Helaine and Steffie got there early so Steffie could be in “Group A” under Southwest’s non-reserved seating policy. Depending on when you check in, you’re assigned A, B or C. A’s board first and have their choice of seats and overhead storage.

There had been a time when National Guardsmen inspected cars on their way to the parking garage at Bradley Airport. Not so today when you’d expect it.

Southwest is in the new terminal at Bradley and Helaine reports it’s bigtime. Southwest allows three bags at 70 pounds apiece, so Steffie was easily accommodated. Helaine asked for, and was quickly issued, a gate pass, so she could stay with Steffie while she waited to board. We were expecting good, friendly service from Southwest and weren’t disappointed.

Once onboard, in row 7, Steffie called Helaine to let her know things were fine. The next call came after arriving in Tampa. All I got was a reply to my cellphone text message. Without going into the entire message, I’m a loser.

It’s OK. It was said with love. I think.

Steffie’s flight made it on time. Now, she gets a full week of being spoiled (and listening to A&E at stun level volume) with my folks.

The house will be eerily quiet, and though Steffie and I are often at odds, I will miss her.

6 thoughts on “High Alert – Steffie Flies”

  1. Geoff,

    This is a remarkable amount of information for just one week. I suuppose at this point I should write “I’m surprised to find out that you could write so much about yourself”. But of course we both know that would be dishonest.

    I am surprised at how smoothly and clearly you present in written form your life to the world. This “BLOG” doesn’t read like something you just typed out off the top of your head. It is too mistake-free. Did you spend many hours drafting and editing it? It sure seems that way. But knowing how busy you are I imagine that you actually took all the time it would take we mere mortals to express ourselves so clearly. What is your secret?

    I’m hugely impressed with your personal honesty. You present everything with all the warts and self doubts and self criticisms that most of us tend to hide behind a more perfect public image. For someone whose stock in trade IS hsi public image, this degree of honesty and revelation is striking — and praiseworthy.

    The author in me is jealous; the friend in me is awed. Do you keep this up every day? Is there the possibilty of binding it all together and presenting it to your close friends and relatives as a year-end book?

    Is this something other people do? I’m not sure I would be so inclined — nor so capable. But it sure takes a lot of the stuffing out of those annoying year-end letters that I’ve gotten in the mail. This way, with what you (and I guess the rest of the world except me) calls a BLOG, those who want to know the latest with you can just log on. And the rest can just keep to their poker sites, book sites, or music files.

    OK, that’s enough ways of saying “WAY COOL MAN”. And, of course, thanks for the free plug.

    Ashley

  2. i was found near the water on East Pearl ST.New Haven ct. i am trying to find police records for June24,1969 i need to know whats been done about it my name at the time was Donna Taylor my Birthday is October 29, 1963 Thank You

  3. i was found near the water on East Pearl ST.New Haven ct. i am trying to find police records for June24,1969 i need to know whats been done about it my name at the time was Donna Taylor my Birthday is October 29, 1963 Thank You

  4. i was found near the water on East Pearl ST.New Haven ct. i am trying to find police records for June24,1969 i need to know whats been done about it my name at the time was Donna Taylor my Birthday is October 29, 1963 Thank You

  5. i was found near the water on East Pearl ST.New Haven ct. i am trying to find police records for June24,1969 i need to know whats been done about it my name at the time was Donna Taylor my Birthday is October 29, 1963 Thank You

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