I am back in Key West!

And happy to be!

As I drove home from the airport, the palm trees looked terrific! And the humidity felt good!

Yesterday was a long day. It started at 8:3o when I left Utica for the Syracuse airport. My ride was late and we had to speed the 50 miles to Syracuse.

I got there about 20 minutes prior to flight time. Not good in these days of security, long lines and the like.

The first two legs of my trip were on Northwestern. I rushed to the Northwestern counter to check my bag and me. The young lady checking me in was terrific. I think her name was Jenna. If I am incorrect, I apologize.

She got all excited when she saw I was traveling to Key West. She was even more excited when she learned I lived there full time.

I am confident she will join in reading the blog this morning.

I made the plane just in time. My bag did not. More regarding the bag later.

Yesterday was a day of lovely young ladies.

I was seated on the first plane next to another beautiful young lady! A real beauty! Tall, blond and statuesque!

I was impressed how cool she appeared. I snuck a peek over a few times while I was reading my book. Sun glasses cover an old man’s sneaky eye!

When we landed in Detroit, we were stuck on the runway a while. I initiated a conversation.

Her name was Charlene. This was the first time she had ever flown! So much for the cool!

I felt bad I had not spoken with her earlier and perhaps have taken her mind off the anxiety.

Charlene is 22. A senior at Buffalo State. An education major. Does not think she will be able to get a job in this economy when she graduates. So probably will get a Masters.

She was flying to Kansas City. Her roomate lives there. They were going to drive back to Buffalo together.

Seemed strange. Buffalo is a 3 hour drive from her home. Kansas is in the middle of the country.

While we were walking to our next planes, she admitted she was also sort of in love. I suspect Charlene’s roommate was the boyfried. Now the plane flight and long drive made sense!

Charlene is from Chittenango. A small community about 15 miles from Syracuse.

Before the New York Thruway was built, my father used to drive us to Syracuse over route 5. It went right though Chittenango. I recall Chittenago being known as the ham town. It even had a restaurant with a sign outside…the Ham that Am. Dad always made a big deal out of the ham factor. We would even occasionally stop to have ham and eggs. A treat!

I mentioned the ham thing to Charlene. I told her about the Ham that Am. She looked at me with a blank stare. She did not know what I was talking about. Never heard of the ham thing!

I told her to ask her father the next time she spoke with him.

I have not been through or in Chittenango in over 50 years. Things must have changed!

I had a 3 hour lay over in Fort Myers. It was dinner time. So I sat down at one of those airport eateries for a drink and burger.

I asked the waitress for a Beefeater on the rocks. She asked me for ID. I said you’re kidding! I’m 74! She said no, she had to have it. I said, OK. And thank you. You just made my day!

The third and last flight was with Cape Air. An 8 seater twin engine plane.

It was painted in jungle like colors. Had a picture of Captain Tony on the side. And a shark head painted on the nose! Like those World War II fighter planes in the Pacific. Shades of John Wayne in Flying Tigers!

I wanted to sit in the back. My concern was leg room. The pilot insisted I sit in the co pilot’s seat. I was the biggest passenger and he needed the weight up front.

You have to be an accordian to crawl into the co pilot’s seat! But I did it!

Surprisingly, I had a lot of leg room! More than I would have had in any passenger seat.

A pleasant flight!

We were up around 2,000 feet for a while. Then when we were out over the open Gulf, we dropped considerably. I thought once we might skim the water top!

The sun set as we were arriving in Key West. What could be better!

Before we left Fort Myers, I was told my bag was not on the plane. Northwestern could not find it.

When I arrived in Key West, I went to the counter to advise my bag was lost, etc. The woman asked my name. I told her. She said we have your bag!

Back to Syracuse! I was late to the airport. I just made the plane. My bag did not. Some how it got on flights and arrived in Key West before me. Why could I not have been booked on those flights? It took me 12 hours to get to Key West!

Marty telephoned just as I walked in the house. He was at the bar at Kelley’s enjoying a Maine lobster. He wanted to know if I made it back safely and if I wanted to join him for dinner.

I was dead! I said, thank you. No. I am going to bed.

Which is what I did and enjoyed a good night’s sleep.

Have yourself one great day! I plan to! It will be a return to Key West normalcy. A hair cut with Lori, lunch at Paradise Cafe, coffee at the Coffee House, the Chart room tonight and on and on!

4 comments on “

  1. I am glad you are home. Being back in Key West after a vacation is wonderful. It feels as if gravity has returned to normal.

    Thanks again for the birthday drink. That made my night.

    P.S. The Conch House (where Ammie works) is located at:
    625 Truman Ave.
    Right across the street from the Catholic School

  2. I am glad you are home. Being back in Key West after a vacation is wonderful. It feels as if gravity has returned to normal.

    Thanks again for the birthday drink. That made my night.

    P.S. The Conch House (where Ammie works) is located at:
    625 Truman Ave.
    Right across the street from the Catholic School

  3. maybe if your bag had made the plane and you missed it, then you'd have made it in less than 12 hours. Next time, pack yourself in a bag and miss the plane?

  4. maybe if your bag had made the plane and you missed it, then you'd have made it in less than 12 hours. Next time, pack yourself in a bag and miss the plane?

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