A response from a frequent flyer

AlphaSigOU · 09-19-2001, 06:44 AM

This was posted by a frequent flyer on the FlyerTalk (www.flyertalk.com) frequent flyer message board:

Quote:

After spending a long weekend in the wilds of Oregon I've decided what I'm going to do as a result of the recent events in NYC and DC. (Actually I decided the very day of the attacks. Thinking about it over the past few days though, it occurs that I should declare it publicly.) So what is it I'm going to do?

Nothing.

That's right. I'm going to carry on as if it never happened. Over the past week I've seen and heard all the same reports as the rest of you, about people being afraid to fly, people changing their travel and vacation plans, of worrying what the future holds. I refuse to do any of these.

For me (and me alone) to do so is to accede to the terrorists' wishes. Clearly they wanted to instil fear in us, to disrupt our lives, to attack our way of life. But I refuse to play along with their sordid game. I'm not going to let them decide how I live my life. As far as it is within my control I'll not change one iota.

Yes I will be forced to pack differently, but I'll still take my laptop, 2 cell phones, scopemeter, DVMs, and other assorted electronic test equipment along. I'll even take my spare batteries for my screwdriver. I'll have to declare them of course, and present them for display, which pretty much means I'll have to carry them on-board. I'll still wear my steel-toed shoes, even if I have to take them off and put them through X-ray.

I'll have to show up at the airport much earlier but no matter -- I'm still going. It doesn't matter where or when, if I have to go somewhere then I'm going come hell or high water. And as much as possible I'm going in the manner I'm accustomed to -- by boat, or car, or rail, or even air.

I started this weekend on a long planned trip to the Oregon coast. At first it was suggested that I not go, given the extended delays at the borders. I went anyway, fully expecting a 3 hour delay and finding exactly that. I went nonetheless. I'll go again.

I'm going to continue to be tolerant and patient with airline employees who are at least trying. I'm going to continue raising my eyebrows at people who deserve it. I'm not going to be nasty to my Muslim Arab-Canadian neighbours. I'm not going to bail on the stock market. I'm not even going to exercise my stock options. I'm not going to stop doing anything that I've always done, or start doing something that I haven't before.

Well, except perhaps one thing. From time to time, I'll probably think about the people in the various buildings on September 11. Even more, I'll think about the people on the planes, and more so yet the crews on the planes. Most of all, I'll think about the people on flight 93, who apparently tried to take fate into their own hands, and while not entirely successful, appeared at least to have prevented an even greater tragedy.

The other thing I might have done, but haven't and probably won't, is to try to eloquently express my feelings and condolences. For me, any attempt to do so would be a palely pathetic attempt that simply wouldn't do justice to the
way I feel. If you want to know what I think or how I feel, look inside yourself, for you know what I know, and you feel what I feel.

In the meantime, give me the d*mn ticket. I have a plane to catch.

NEADC9 · 09-19-2001, 08:59 AM

Amen to that!

IFTNFS · 09-19-2001, 11:25 PM

My sentiments exactly!

Rick

Ozz · 09-19-2001, 11:34 PM

I just bought two tickets to Hawaii, life goes on.

AlphaSigOU · 09-19-2001, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ozz
I just bought two tickets to Hawaii, life goes on.

Schweet! Have fun, don't eat too much at the luau, and above all don't drink too much of that kamanawanaleiu punch!

ltu1542hvy · 09-20-2001, 12:04 AM

I could not have said it better myself! I have been telling everybody in my neck of the woods who asked that I am not going to change my routine, my plans and my habits (to the extent possible, of course) due to these terrorist attacks, since doing so would be giving in to the terrorist's intentions and contribute to letting them win, and I'll be damned if I do that.

On a more personal note, on Tuesday last week I was scheduled to take an exam to become a Certified Novell Administrator (a type of credential for computer professionals. In the world of computer certifications this particular one is not that big of a deal, but IMO it is still a first step in the right direction). I had planned to study on Tuesday and give the material a final once-over, but I was too shocked and stunned by the news to be able to focus on it. Even though I was not at all in the right frame of mind to take the test, I went in and took it anyway.

And I passed it!!!!

Since I managed to take and pass that test on that particular day, it somehow feels not only like just another professional credential, but also like a personal victory over the terrorists. Sure, they can bomb our country and blow up buildings and airplanes, and even though I was shocked to the core and saddened by the uncountable loss of life, they cannot break our way of life and our determination and drive to succeed.

- Bill

Ozz · 09-20-2001, 12:06 AM

Mai tai's and mahi mahi, the haole staple.

Ozz · 09-20-2001, 12:11 AM

Bill, congrats on the pass and the personal victory!

N. Eberhard · 09-20-2001, 01:11 AM

My next destination using UA miles is going to be Hawaii - damn the terrorists and their box cutters.

Face it, if most of us had to choose our way of dying it would be in a screaming dive from 39,000 - what a freakin ride that would be.

Travis Campbell · 09-20-2001, 01:24 AM

I just bought tickets to LA for next month. Edwards Air Force Base airshow, what else can I say.

Hope it's still on. I picked the right time to fly too, I get to fly on my first 777, and because of light load factors, I get a window seat...

DeltaKP · 09-20-2001, 03:03 AM

You want to know what I just did......I just watched 6 of my fellow employees get told not to comeback to work on Monday. They were told "We'll call ya when we need ya". You want to know what else I did. I cancelled my vacation plans to Hawaii on Oct 2nd because, although I can get there for free, I can't risk spending the cash I have in the bank.

Unfortunately I cannot go on as normal, neither can the airline workers who's jobs are at risk.

I applaud those who are allowing life to go on normal, and if that includes flying somewhere, I give you a standing ovation. You are the people keeping me and others at work. I just wish everyone felt the same as you.

DeltaFlot · 09-20-2001, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ozz
I just bought two tickets to Hawaii, life goes on.

Hey Ozz, need a guide? Been stationed on Oahu for a year and some now. I'll provide anyhelp you need.

09-19-2001, 11:34 PM	#4
Ozz Insane Collector Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada (CYVR) Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	I just bought two tickets to Hawaii, life goes on. __________________ Ozz ORANGE IS BEAUTIFUL *GO WESTJET!!!* We need more CPAir/CDN and don't forget PWA and BA Landor!

09-20-2001, 12:04 AM	#6
ltu1542hvy Master Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Durham, North Carolina Age: 42 Posts: 738	VERY well said I could not have said it better myself! I have been telling everybody in my neck of the woods who asked that I am not going to change my routine, my plans and my habits (to the extent possible, of course) due to these terrorist attacks, since doing so would be giving in to the terrorist's intentions and contribute to letting them win, and I'll be damned if I do that. On a more personal note, on Tuesday last week I was scheduled to take an exam to become a Certified Novell Administrator (a type of credential for computer professionals. In the world of computer certifications this particular one is not that big of a deal, but IMO it is still a first step in the right direction). I had planned to study on Tuesday and give the material a final once-over, but I was too shocked and stunned by the news to be able to focus on it. Even though I was not at all in the right frame of mind to take the test, I went in and took it anyway. And I passed it!!!! Since I managed to take and pass that test on that particular day, it somehow feels not only like just another professional credential, but also like a personal victory over the terrorists. Sure, they can bomb our country and blow up buildings and airplanes, and even though I was shocked to the core and saddened by the uncountable loss of life, they cannot break our way of life and our determination and drive to succeed. - Bill

09-20-2001, 12:06 AM	#7
Ozz Insane Collector Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada (CYVR) Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	Mai tai's and mahi mahi, the haole staple. __________________ Ozz ORANGE IS BEAUTIFUL *GO WESTJET!!!* We need more CPAir/CDN and don't forget PWA and BA Landor!

09-20-2001, 12:11 AM	#8
Ozz Insane Collector Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada (CYVR) Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	Bill, congrats on the pass and the personal victory! __________________ Ozz ORANGE IS BEAUTIFUL *GO WESTJET!!!* We need more CPAir/CDN and don't forget PWA and BA Landor!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

09-19-2001, 08:59 AM	#2
NEADC9 Insane Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Franklin, MA Posts: 981	Amen to that!

09-19-2001, 11:25 PM	#3
IFTNFS Senior Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Harwich, MA, USA Age: 27 Posts: 427	My sentiments exactly! Rick

09-20-2001, 01:11 AM	#9
N. Eberhard Dr. Diecast I presume? Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Age: 44 Posts: 3,330	My next destination using UA miles is going to be Hawaii - damn the terrorists and their box cutters. Face it, if most of us had to choose our way of dying it would be in a screaming dive from 39,000 - what a freakin ride that would be.

09-20-2001, 01:24 AM	#10
Travis Campbell Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Detroit, Michigan (Roughly) Age: 27 Posts: 1,067	I just bought tickets to LA for next month. Edwards Air Force Base airshow, what else can I say. Hope it's still on. I picked the right time to fly too, I get to fly on my first 777, and because of light load factors, I get a window seat...

09-20-2001, 03:03 AM	#11
DeltaKP Senior Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: PBI Age: 40 Posts: 201	You want to know what I just did......I just watched 6 of my fellow employees get told not to comeback to work on Monday. They were told "We'll call ya when we need ya". You want to know what else I did. I cancelled my vacation plans to Hawaii on Oct 2nd because, although I can get there for free, I can't risk spending the cash I have in the bank. Unfortunately I cannot go on as normal, neither can the airline workers who's jobs are at risk. I applaud those who are allowing life to go on normal, and if that includes flying somewhere, I give you a standing ovation. You are the people keeping me and others at work. I just wish everyone felt the same as you.