Good one

Manchie and I met friends for dinner last night in Charlotte at a restaurant near the condo.... Flying Biscuits. I was sooooo disappointed. We got there a little early, ate dinner and then sat around and talked for about an hour. Not once, no... not even once, did I see a flying biscuit. I got to thinking later (big event for me) that maybe it was my fault and I should have thrown one. If we ever go back. Good food. They serve breakfast all day.

Company was even better than the food.

The friends brought another friend of theirs. Her husband has transferred to a new job and she was stuck in Charlotte all alone. She had a really sad story. Took them two weeks to sell the house in Charlotte. This recession and poor housing market...!!

Was on Facebook this morning when lo and behold, Sally Tudor gave me a shout out (some kind of laundry product?). It was early for me and even earlier for her. Moms don't get to sleep in.

Hannah has two ballgames tomorrow. That girl will get a workout.

Other than that and a haircut, don't think we have much planned or else Manchie hasn't told me yet. I'm heading up to NYC Monday for a few days.

ZZZZZZZ........

This has certainly been a normal week. Nothing exciting to write about. Last weekend Manchie and I went to Hannah’s basketball game and, again, they won. Not going to make too much of us being there and all, but the one game we did not attend they lost and the two games they won, we were there.

I washed both vehicles last Saturday and by doing so, figured out exactly how old I really am. Was sore for two days.

See, told ya it was a boring week.

Lazy Bones

Hannah's game yesterday was exciting. Both teams threatened to break 100 points, but each team's defense was intense and the score reflected the tremendous effort. Hannah's team won 13-11. They have had 3 practices and 2 games. She looked really good. Hannah came home with us and ate lunch. She is such a lady.

Manchie spent the afternoon running errands and I spent the afternoon doing my Pop impression in front of the tv.

We went to early church this morning, came home and ate brunch. Jonathan and Marissa have invited us over for food and, according to Jonathan, some big important football game this afternoon. I'm hoping it is on tv and he doesn't expect me to actually play.

Welcome Visit

We had a wonderful surprise here in Charlotte this week. Joyce and Bill came up Wednesday, spent the night and left Thursday. The wonderful part was them coming, not them leaving.

They got here while I was at work and before Manchie got into town. We met them at the condo later, talked for awhile and then went out to eat. Came home and stayed up WAY past Joyce’s and my bedtime. We met for lunch Thursday and they left. It was really nice of them to visit.

Not only the highlight of my week, but may well have been the highlight of the month for me.

Weekend

Haircut with Macon turned out to be the best trip to the barber shop yet. Macon was the ideal kid.

Taped my testimony at church this morning on video. Will be shown next week. Really enjoyed doing it. Manchie was there to lend me support.

Jonathan, Griffin and I just returned from the boat & rv show here in town. Vendors said the traffic was the same as last year and a couple of the boat guys said they sold as many units as last year. It was fun and Griffin was, as always, well behaved. He enjoyed "driving" the boats, the pwc's, the four wheelers and the motorcycles. He wanted Jonathan or I to actually make a boat "go".

Manchie is grilling steaks tonight. We had chili last night. We are continuing our meataterian diet.

Rolling Along

Frank/Granddaddy is amazing....!!! Manchie and I rode over to take him out to eat dinner. The man kept leaving his cane. He chastised Manchie when she pulled up to the restaurant door to let us out. He said: "There's a parking spot right over there." He saw one two rows from the door. He didn’t think he needed to be dropped off so I told him it was for my benefit.

One thing about going over for dinner with him.... we eat at a fish camp. I've made Manchie promise that the next time we go she ignore my requests and that she refuse to eat there again. Way too good and way too greasy. Reminds me of the few times we went to the beach with my sister and brother-in-law and Bill and I had to have banana splits after dinner.

Today is barber shop day for Macon and Papa. I never know what I’ll get when we go. Last time, Macon sat and read a magazine, only squirming some. The time before, he could not sit still….. even went outside while I was in the chair. Whatever it turns out to be, it is worth it to spend time with him.

The youngest grandchild, one I love dearly and he is certainly in my top five, has been sick this week with the “croup” (no idea how to spell what he has) Got a call on my cell phone one day this week at work from his mom. I called back. Little one had been drinking apple juice and told his mom he wanted to tell Papa about it. So, when I called back, he got on the phone, started talking to me and I mentioned him drinking juice. Well, being two, he goes off in search of his juice. Finds it and then comes back to talk to me. I get the feeling I’m one of his favorite granddads on his dad’s side of the family.

Those grand’s in school all got what we used to call report cards. Seems all do ok in school, some even more than ok. Smart, talented, good-looking…… must be in the genes?

Next

Jonathan, David and I did get to the car show this past Saturday. We talked about someone may recognize me from the tv interview on the 11 news the night before. Sure...... right?

Well, low and behold, someone came up to me and said.."do I know you?" I introduced myself and said "don't know". He said: "Well I work for a company that was bought out by Eaton." I had on a jacket with Eaton written on it. Bob said: "Oh... this jacket was free or really cheap. My family knows that if it's free or cheap, I will own it." I don't work for Eaton. Then we talked about the company he works for and moving to Greenville area, etc. I bought the jacket off eBay.

Went to church Sunday and then pretty much relaxed around the house the rest of the day. Watching the play-off games the way Daddy/Pop used to watch sports on tv. Manchie spoiled me and I told her so. She told me that was normal. Have to agree with her.

Tuesday it was snowing and I went to the doctor's office. Turns out that the doctor I was to see didn't make it in. I was seen and told that my back problem was more than likely muscle related (wonder how you have that problem when there are no more muscles?) and to come back in a week or two for x-rays if it still bothers me.

Manchie had to have the radiator replaced in her car. Think we may be starting on "upgrading" her car piece by piece. That's how we get a new car these days.... piece by piece.

Holly seems to have survived her first week of student teaching, having dealt with one incident of a student trying out a vulgar word in class on a day a substitute was in the class. Don't you just love 5th grade boys. Yes, it was a boy. Surprised? I think Holly scored some serious "atta girl" points with the other teachers and staff. Having dealt with her four, she doesn't get rattled easily. She's going to be an excellent teacher and will have parents begging to get their kids in her class someday.

Well, off to the office for me.

Flight 1549

So, what have you been doing lately? Anything interesting?

Well, I have had a most exciting experience and like all people who have had a wonderful vacation, a major accomplishment at work or just gotten engaged, I want to bore you with an account of my escapades. Flight 1549.

The Airbus was a little late leaving LaGuardia airport. Nothing unusual with that. Leaving LGA on-time …. now that would be unusual. So we pull away from the gate and by that time I’m in my usual flight nervous state, I’m dozing off. Head lolling, mouth agape, drooling, snorting. You know the nervous type.

About a minute or so into the flight as the plane had slowed from the early flight quick acceleration, I heard a loud “BANG” coming from what I thought was the right side of the plane. This plane is a 3 and 3 seat configuration (like the fact that I know this airline jargan?) and I was in 8D. That’s right side facing the front. That sound certainly got my attention as well as all the other 150 or so passengers. The plane was shaking.

The plane leveled off well below our intended altitude and seemed to coast along for awhile. Then it seemed all the mechanicals stopped because the normal noises ceased. A few people were talking, but it I think only to their travel companions. We started a slow turn to the left and I figured we were returning to the airport because something was really bad. (That’s called a “major understatement” in The Bobby’s Guide to Writing.)

As we continued to turn and lose altitude, it became more probable we weren’t going to make it, but I don’t think any of us on the plane realized for certain we were going down until the pilot announced for us to brace for impact. That was the highlight of the flight. Trip cancelled, no in-flight service….. bummer. I then assumed the position of doing my best to inspect the shoes of the guy sitting behind me while trying to hold my toupee as tightly as possible. It seemed forever between the “bang” and the captain’s announcement and an equal lifetime between his announcement and the impact (don’t you love the word? Not “CRASH..!!)

In that position at that time is when I had the calmest moment of my life. I realized we were going to crash and die. I asked the Lord to let me in and that I was looking forward to seeing Him. I prayed for Him to watch out for Manchie and the kids and be with them. I hoped we would miss any heavily occupied buildings (that was a just a thought, but apparently He looked after that too).

Impact was not at all bad. My hands were on top of my head since I was doing shoe inspections and my right hand was slightly scratched and is swollen. No damage to my other hand, my head or my toupee. May have done a job on my back, but I’ll cover that in a later chapter. I then thought “well Bob, seems you may have a thing or two left to do here on earth”.

As soon as we stopped, and that doesn’t take long when you land on/in the water, we started our herd mentality to exit the plane. I had no choice about which exit to take, the crowd decided for me. Some panicked, contrary to the TV reports I heard, and were pushing, yelling and some were crawling over the seats. Most were orderly, but moving as rapidly as possible to the open door above the wing (clearly another understatement).

I think this was about the first time I heard “women and children first”. It was repeated often and was actually followed as best we could in such confined spaces.

We exited onto the right wing. Our raft had inflated, but was upside down and pushed back against the side of the plane. We could not get to it from the wing. The water was up to the top of my shoes when I got on the wing or shortly after. Men closest to the back edge of the wing were trying to wrestle the raft closer and turn it over so folks could get on. As you have probably noticed on the “Miracle on the Hudson” original airing and the repeats, the raft would have been a lot more comfortable than standing in really, really cold water.

Well, the guys were having no success with righting the raft, but had managed to get it closer to the wing as the water reached our knees and then someone who apparently is brilliant (as well as handsome and charming), yelled…”get on the raft…. The bottom is ok…. It will work that way”…. Or something close to that. I really don’t remember what I said exactly. That’s when the women and children rule kicked in again. By this time the wing was a bit crowded and as the men parted to let the …. you know who…. get to the raft, yours truly was being backed OFF the wing. I finally mentioned to the two or three guys in front of me that they were about to nudge me into the water.

Then eureka…!! A guy noticed a ferry heading our way and we got really excited (you know…. understatement). Time lapse here and then the boat got to the end of the wing and a few were able to scramble up the ladder. The ladder had a small platform at the end just at the water’s surface. Then it seemed the boat was backing up to what we thought was to position to move to the front of the plane were folks had exited from the front onto a raft. Let’s see….. us on the wing in freezing water vs. those up there in a dry raft. Some of us suggested to the boat crew that they stay with us. They returned. Looking back and seeing the reports on television, with the river flow as strong as it is, they were most likely dealing with that and trying to stay with us as we floated down the river.

When my turn to leave the plane/boat came, we were having to jump for the ladder as it was not always right at the wing. That’s when I thought about skiing this past September. More specifically, trying to get back in the boat after skiing and how Jonathan had to pull me up onto the boat platform. Remember, the ferry’s small platform was about 2-3 times the size of a step and at or just below the water level. In my mind, way too much the same as I remembered with a smaller platform. Was I going to be able to get up the ladder? As it turned out, NO PROBLEM. Jumping in the water and climbing/scrambling/clawing up the ladder is when I think I hurt my back.

The ladder only accommodated one at a time, so we stayed there until each “right wing” person got aboard. Aside: was I on the correct wing or what?

Since I lost my overcoat somewhere between Row 8, Seat D and the exit, I was soaking wet and slightly cold. Being immersed in freezing water and standing in freezing air tends to chill a person. We continued what the ferry crew had started and were chucking life jackets from the ferry boat to those still on the wing just in case. Some gentleman draped his suit coat over me and a lady asked if I wanted to use her cell phone. Turns out, they were two of the passengers on the ferry when our plane went in.

I called Manchie and left a message on her cell that I was on a ferry, she may hear about what happened and that I was fine. I later borrowed the phone again, which I did umpteen times from different people, and called her back and told her what happened.

They took us the NY side of the river to Pier 81 or 83, not sure which. Others taken off the plane went to the NJ side.

Of course the ferry terminal was not prepared for large influx of cold, wet non-passengers, so we had nothing at that time. The two kids running the small snack shop in the terminal opened it up to us, giving us coffee, tea, hot chocolate, snacks…. whatever we wanted. Later in the story, but I bring it up now, the owner shows up and he is in a tux wearing shades (sunglasses to some and no, the tux was not wearing shades, the man was). He looked so out of place that I asked who he was. I thanked him for what he was doing and he said: “hey man, it is the only thing we can do. We have to do this, it’s the right thing”. Or something close. Keep in mind, black NY and white southerner, but the message was real clear. He echoed the sentiments expressed in words AND actions by literally every person who was there… NYPD, NYFD, Red Cross, Jewish relief, Waterway employees, EMTs, etc. Quite a few people were off work, but came in when they heard the news.

So we stayed in the terminal for the next 2 – 2 ½ hours, maybe up to three, (but who was tracking?) getting blankets, sweat clothes, athletic socks, coffee, tea, and water. We gave our name, address and age over and over again to every agency there. Even FBI. Notice they were not included in the list above of those offering aid. NY mayor and NY governor came through… and I do mean through. I think the governor did speak to a couple of people. It appeared obvious that they were not there for us. Red Cross trauma counselor came by to offer her services and I was my usual caring sensitive guy and told her I was ok, but sure needed her about 15 -20 years ago.

We were told we were taking a bus back to LGA for processing which could have included a flight out to Charlotte that night if available or at least a hotel room. By this time Vinny, a NYPD Drug Enforcement officer, was helping a couple of us by lending us his phone, getting water, snatching dry socks and whatever he could think of we might need. Two of us had made arrangements for a place to stay and Vinny said he would get us out of the terminal without the press and take us to where we wanted to go. So we went. The other person met a representative from her company and I was delivered to the apartment the company keeps in NY. My boss stayed in town so he could do what he could to help and because I had lost my keys to the doors.

He had gotten my clothing sizes from Manchie and asked a designer from the company to go shopping at Macy’s for me. The lady did an awesome job of picking out things. Pant choices, nice shirt, sweater, underwear (folks at work now know WAY too much about me), socks and even shoes. The shoes were too small, but all the rest worked. Two pair of the pants and the shoes are being returned. I had to give the lady grief over her choice of shoes….. Sperry Topsiders….. model name: GET WET. She took a picture of me holding the box and sent the pic out to most, if not all the company.

Many, many of those in our NY office came to see me yesterday morning when I got in to the office about 8 or so. Some even cried. I had the reputation lately of when I showed up someone got fired. I remembered that and wondered if all the tears were for the same reasons.

I was leaving our NY office in borrowed shoes Friday morning because Macy’s didn’t open early enough to exchange the shoes. That wasn’t good enough for my boss. He ran down the street and bought me shoes. I was soooooo styling. USAirways rep in Charlotte said I was the best dressed of all the returnees. Said most were showing up in sweats or such. Term “Joe College” was used when referring to me. That’s what happens when a young, hip designer buys your clothes.

Got somewhat special treatment at LGA for the return trip to Charlotte. Unfortunately, by the time I was booked on the plane it was almost a sell-out, so the returnees were in the last group to board. But that was OK as I wasn’t all that anxious to get started. Nerves did kick in and it was difficult, but not impossible, to doze off this time. I woke up for the take-off just in case I needed to be alert.

We landed and USAirways reps took me to their private club and made sure I wasn’t going to sue or anything. They didn’t bring it up, but that was the only reason I could figure for bringing me there and offering me food and drink. I escaped and headed home. Lady that I work with from the Charlotte office had bought me a cell phone which she brought to me so I could be in touch on the drive home. We have an understanding... we don't hug or touch in any way, but I did get a hug that day.

Got a few hugs and kisses from Manchie when I walked in. Guess an extra day in NYC made her miss me even more than usual. Not long after getting here, Manchie’s phone rings and I decided to answer it with : “USAirways Customer Serivce, May I help you?” Turned out to be a USAirways customer service rep checking up on me. She was told by one of the Charlotte reps that I was limping and wanted to make sure I got checked out by a doctor. Promised I would if my back was still bothering me Monday. She did say they would return any personal items they recovered and reimburse for medical expenses and lost items. Wish I could claim that new iPod, the brand new computer, my two Italian silk suits, Blu-Ray dvd player, those three pair of Allen Edmonds shoes (actually the ones that got ruined were Allen Edmonds…… drat.), the 42” flat screen TV, and the 2009 Escalade. They may frown on some of the things I took on board.

Kids and grandkids came over for dinner and celebration. Holly cooked dinner. That woman has to come over more often…!! They nixed the suggestion by one of my loving family to fix me a dinner of roasted goose. Was certainly a grand time for me. Manchie and others had arranged for me to be interviewed by a local TV station. Aired last night on the 11 o’clock news. They somehow altered my speech to make me sound more southern.

I sit here today basking in the blessing of being here with those I love and receiving calls and messages from love ones in other places. It really is a great day.

The guys, Jonathan, David and I, are going to the local car show this afternoon. Life is back to normal.

The overall experience was actually very positive. Seeing people at their best and coming to know that our life on this earth is fragile is rewarding. Tends to focus you on the important things.