“Oh no” I gasped, quickly checking my left back pants pocket – empty. My wallet was in my car cup holder. I had taken it out to get a dollar for the 70 cent toll on the Newark Airport exit of the Turnpike. Fumbling with the toll receipt and my seatbelt I’d put the wallet in the cup holder. I was currently seated on a 6:05AM flight to Dallas. Let’s see, I mentally calculated, I had 15 minutes; I was parked in the Hourly Section right outside the baggage claim area. The gate wasn’t that far down the Concourse. I could probably run out and be back in 12 minutes. It wasn’t worth the chance I concluded. I didn’t really need a wallet or money for this trip.
I was on a day trip to the Dallas Sales office to train a group of sales reps in a new tracking program. B, the office manager, would pick me up at Dallas / Fort Worth Airport drive me to the office, lunch would be brought in and B would drive me back for a 5:45PM flight to Newark. I had my return ticket and no need for ID, money or credit cards. I wouldn’t be able to buy a $2.50 cocktail (or 2 little bottles for $5.00) on the flight home – no big deal.
The flight landed on time. B was waiting at the gate. The day went as planned and B drove me back. Dallas / Fort Worth Airport posted the gate numbers for current flights on huge lighted billboards on the approach roads, allowing drop off right outside the appropriate gate. I arrived 15 minutes early and was quickly aboard. B had gotten a kick out of my destitute status and loaned me $5.00. As I sipped my large Vodka and orange juice, I was oblivious to the changes that would soon take place with regard to the experience of flying. What a difference!!
kongoboken 