flying through
Already home again after my quick trip to the Atlanta Gift Show. Quick being the best word to describe all aspects. The flight there was a pre-dawn departure into rough, turbulent skies. Flying through stormy headwinds surprised all of us...some with audible gasps....dramatic ups and downs, side-to-side. I was beside a chanting Buddhist and behind another man under a prayer shawl. The woman behind me just moaned. It would have been nice to have someone nearby to laugh it off. Thankfully, it didn't last too long and after landing comfortably in sunny, friendly Atlanta, I bolted forward to the train, Mart, showrooms, meetings, research, meetings, visiting, etc and finally back to train, hotel and a heavenly bed. Somewhere in that daylong adventure there was food, I think.
The following morning, everything was better and another top-speed round before heading back to the airport. I had a chatty visit on the train with my seatmate, a shop-owner and buyer from Illinois. We exchanged notes on the show and chuckled about the overwhelming abundance of new merchandise and the amazing fact that it is actually consumed by all of us, season after season. Like fashion, X starts out on the design table, X sold to the manufacturer, X presented at the market showroom, X bought by the shop, X sold to the consumer, X adored, X finally donated to the church sale, X rediscovered by a designer, X cleverly restyled and X.2 picked up by the manufacturer who shows it at the market....X.2, so appealing, so essential, so new, so current. Until X.3 shows up next year. Happily neverending.
At the airport food counter near the gate, I waited for my order and stood beside a pilot anxiously waiting too. I said something about making my flight on time and he asked where I was headed. New York. He, too...apparently Captain of my flight. Jokingly, I asked him to please choose the soft air this time, the smooth ride, that I had almost considered driving home after the flight down. Okie dokie, will do. Off he went.
I was one of the last to get on board and as I fumbled that carry-on bag down the aisle toward the way back of a fairly empty plane, the flight attendant stopped me. The Captain wants you up front. Ack! Sorry to be a straggler, didn't mean to hold everyone up. O, no, he wants you to sit up front. In first class. He asked us to be sure you have a comfortable ride home.
Seriously!?!
Juice in a real glass, a toasty, chocolate-chip cookie on a china plate. Acres of leg room and endless soft, smooth air in billowing, picturebook skies. My new favorite airline - heavenly! xoC
Well Charlotte as someone who has never flown I am impressed with your Captain. Hope the memories are still good from the show.
Posted by:Denise S | January 13, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Isn't that a wonderful way to end a busy trip!
Posted by:Jan | January 13, 2008 at 04:31 PM
What a blessing to be moved to first class! Glad you made it back safely!
Posted by:Kerri N. | January 13, 2008 at 05:09 PM
What a nice story!! I am glad you had a good flight home!
Posted by:Di | January 13, 2008 at 05:19 PM
What a lovely surprise, to make up for the grotty flight down!
Posted by:French Knots | January 13, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Charlotte, It's nice to know that nice really does matter. You obviously impressed him as a nice lady and he wanted to return the niceness. Good for you!
Posted by:Kimberly C. | January 13, 2008 at 05:50 PM
oh my lord Charlotte you are sooo lucky, Carol and I had a similar bumpy ride down from Boston on Friday and today we did not get first class going back!, I am jealous! I am sooo tired from market I cannot tell you and hopefully lots of good things to share soon!! Sorry I missed you at Market, hopefully next year we could have a bite to eat together! I had the worst hotel and will make sure I stay at the Ritz next time!
xo Ellen
Posted by:ellen Crimi-Trent | January 13, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Ha! That's a GREAT story. My Dad was in Atlanta too, he was helping out with the Italian Christmas ornaments...he said the whole thing was amazing!
Posted by:DianeM | January 14, 2008 at 06:24 AM
Oh how cool was THAT! What a nice pilot! And next time Miss C, you are packing ME in that suitcase because I've ALWAYS wanted to go to the Atlanta Gift Show.. you could sneak me in! ;-)
xo,
Kim
Posted by:Daisy Cottage | January 14, 2008 at 07:52 AM
That's a nice little perk. Good for you. OK - now I have to discuss that HEAVENLY BED. We stayed at a Westin in Charleston, S.C. The bed was so overwhelmingly heavenly that we looked into purchasing one the minute we got home. Unfortunately we'd just bought a bed, so the "heavenly" will wait a bit, but I'm still determined to have one.
Posted by:the farmers wife | January 14, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Glad to hear you made your flight! After looking at your site, realized we carried quite a few of your designs. Trying to organize all my orders from the show and looking forward to starting once again the neverending cycle of product X. Hopefully, my customers comply.
Enjoyed our chat!
Sandy
Posted by:sandy richter | January 14, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Lucky you! You must have simply charmed the pilot with your adorable new felt bag! Sorry we missed you. I did see Sheila, but it was after you had already left. I was hoping to take you for a Chai tea! Maybe next time! You need to stay longer!
best,
Carol
Posted by:Carol Eldridge | January 14, 2008 at 06:05 PM
What a great experience! And you tell it so well.
Lorrie
Posted by:Lorrie | January 14, 2008 at 10:06 PM
What a wonderful story of NICE people in our busy world!!!! Thanks for sharing and glad that you had a comfy bed and such a nice trip... you saw the sunshine through the clouds!!!!
Posted by:sharron | January 15, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Oh, I love that story! What a happy ending...in fact, a first-class ending! :)
Posted by:Tammy | January 15, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Oh my gah. If I EVER fly again, will you come with me? That's just perfect.
Posted by:Alicia P. | January 15, 2008 at 10:11 PM