Love and Friendship

Love and Friendship

Love is like the wild rose briar,
Friendship is like the holly tree-
The holly is dark when the rose briar blooms
but which will bloom more constantly?

The wild rose briar is sweet in spring,
It's summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild briar fair?

Then scorn the silly rose wreath now
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He still may leave thy garland green

Emily Bronte

I am fortunate to have found both the rose and the holly. They grow from the same branch in my home. I hope each of you might do the same. The Herb Society - Rose

My Ten Commandments

If you could compile ten commandments for drivers what would they be? Take a minute and put together a "top ten" of driving etiquette. The Vatican did, and it got me thinking - what would I put on that list? Well here's my Ten Commandments for drivers:

I - Thou shalt not drive under the influence of any substance including alcohol, prescriptions, and even cold medicine if it effects you so.

II - Thou shalt not reign as judge of all drivers by traveling only the speed limit in the left lane.

III - Thou shalt not swerve left before turning right (and vice versa.)

IV - Thou shalt treat other drivers as if you'll sit next to them in church.

V - Thou shalt not occupy more than one parking stall nor park askew in that stall.

VI - Thou shalt restrain yourself, your children, and all others who occupy your vehicle with appropriate seat belts.

VII - Thou shalt start seeing motorcycles and give them the same respect afforded to any driver.

VIII - Thou shalt not block traffic entering the freeway.

IX - Thou shalt use thy turn signal.

X - Thou shalt hang up thy keys before becoming exceedingly old.

I compiled my list before reading the Vatican's just to see what I came up with. Some things are similar. The Vatican goes much deeper in the moral implications of driving responsibly and using a vehicle for legal and illegal purposes, but I'll let you read about that at your leisure. For now, I'd say that if everyone had 10 commandments of driving etiquette they'd be more likely to observe them and more likely to remember all the other important traffic laws that didn't make the list of 10 pet peeves.

I recommend you read the rest of the press release from the Vatican (as well as check out the Ferrari in Vatican City for the press conference yesterday) and take the lessons to heart, regardless of your religious allegiance.

They Didn't Forget Us

Hannah returned from her work in Salem today and brought with her this interesting tidbit: A print copy of the Statesman Journal. I had linked to them extensively yesterday as I blogged about our experience in Salem, OR and my but it was fascinating to see what came out on ink and paper. If memory serves, this is the first time I've been quoted in any newspaper, let alone a relatively large paper based out of capitol city. I now know why so many people have issues with the media. So much is lost in "translation." Bottom line is that what this reporter remembers me saying and what I remember saying are miles apart from each other but each recollection is probably only half as far from what actually transpired.

I've been on that side of the interview before, in High School. I worked for the newspaper staff, primarily as a photographer but everyone was a writer and so I interviewed business owners and students alike and now I find my self raptured in a sense of dread that perhaps I have grossly misquoted someone in the past. I hope not. And I don't mean to imply that Timothy Alex Akimoff, who wrote the article I refer to, made such an error. I'm impressed he recorded both our names and spelled the correctly and overall got the gist of what I was (in my NyQuill induced state) trying to communicate. In fact, seeing our names in print was great for kicks and giggles.

For the record however I'd like to point out that my wife (and Emma's Mom) works for SkyWest Airlines, not Delta, and that I rode SkyWest's first CRJ-900 into Nashville, (which was also SkyWest's first flight into that city for Delta) and did not take a first flight to Bellingham, WA, but was privileged to be there during that stations opening. I've also, as stated yesterday, been to openings in Abilene, Killeen and College Station, TX.

So Tim (If I may call you that) if you are reading, thanks for not forgetting seats 1C and 1D. This issue of the statesman is something that my wife and I will place prominently in Emma's scrapbook. Congratulations again to the City of Salem, the Williamette Valley and the political and business leaders there who worked hard and took the risks that once again connected Salem to the commercial air network.

Congratulations Salem

It wasn't like this in Nashville. I've been fortunate enough to participate in a couple of SkyWest firsts. I took the first SkyWest flight into Abilene - Was there for opening day at College Station - Took the first revenue flight on the first SkyWest CRJ-900 (in the first available first-class seats no less.) But in each of these cases things started slowly, repositioning flights arrived late at night, a small plane flies into a busy airport, etc.. In Salem however you'd think that Bon Jovi was on the plane with us. We pulled up to the terminal to find throngs of people watching through the fence, sipping on free soda and enjoying free sandwiches whilst a local radio station covered the event and string quartet regaled the onlookers with the finest classical compositions.

Getting off the plane we were greeted with no less than a red carpet - literally. Several news outlets had video cameras taping the first passengers (of which Emma and I were numbers 2 and 3) from the first commercial flight in 13 years set foot on the ramp at SLE. The entire passenger compliment was even stopped by a photographer while he took a couple pictures. Glad I decided against the Annie Lennox T-shirt and the hammer pants. A reporter from the Statesman Journal asked us a few questions and, unbeknownst to me, was shooting video with his camera.

The return flight was even more festive. The flight attendant had but to mutter the words "inaugural flight" (each opportunity for which was exploited) and the passengers erupted with cheers. Captain Jon Rivoli (a native of Salem's suburbs) took pleasure in pointing out the few landmarks visible from above the clouds (the peaks of Mts. Hood, Rainer and the "Three Sisters.") If there were not already enough spectacle involved, visible (to some) during climb out was an encouraging "Go Delta" cut into the turf below. After reviewing articles on the Statesman Journal's web site I learned part of the exuberance was due to the fact that Salem's Mayor Taylor and other local dignitaries were aboard this first flight. They were bound for a meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Salt Lake City and local Utah officials.

I don't know if anyone has been quite so excited to see scheduled commercial air service as the natives of and visitors to Oregon's Williamette Valley (and justifiably so.) My reviews of reader comments on various news sites have highlighted many reasons for the masses to be happy. For me, I was happy just to fly, more happy to be part of something exciting and finished my four hour round trip content. Emma, I think, was excited to fly, excited to see Mom (if even for a short while) and confirmed to me that she is possibly the best behaved child flyer that ever stepped aboard an aircraft.