Friday, January 01, 2010
A MORNING AT BRADLEY
HUGFEST AT THE AIRPORT
Rita’s plane was due around 12:30, so Mary and I went to the airport a little early to get ahead of a predicted snow storm. The baggage area was deserted except for a lone woman seated in the first seat of a long row of empty ones. Her attire caught my attention. She had some kind of cold weather cap I would expect to see in an Eastern European country, and a long quilted coat. The hat was pulled down, and the coat up over her chin, like she was freezing.
With time to kill, Mary and I went up to the next level to a place where coffee could be purchased. We got into a line of 6 or 7 people. The first in line was a big, young guy who would become familiar to us because the line didn’t move for about 10 minutes. The person in charge of that coffee booth , by her actions, made it clear she didn’t want to be there, and when I observed her hacking into her hand repeatedly, decided I didn’t want to be there either. We went back to the baggage area to await Rita’s arrival.
The same young woman was still there. Mary went for a walk, and the big guy from the coffee line showed up with coffee for the woman who turned out to be his wife. They seemed to be having a disagreement, when without any introduction,
She turned to me and asked how long I had been married. Never one to miss an opportunity to pontificate, I smiled, told her 58 years. I rose, walked over to her and her husband, and said, “I sensed that you were having some kind of disagreement. Perhaps you would be interested in some fatherly advice, counseling, even.” I noted sagely, “Disagreements are Ok to have. . “They are not cancer,”
I continued, addressing my remarks to the husband. I said, “One thing I have learned in 58 years is that some things my wife does to aggravate me are actually the things which keep her alive, and I have learned to tell myself, ‘Shut up, Bob, and be thankful that you have her.’ “ The woman leapt to her feet and gave me a big hug and a kiss. As though I needed further motivation, I continued asking the man, “Do you love your wife?” He assured me he did, and I said, “Then tell her you love her..” She was out of her seat again for another big hug and kiss. This time, her hat fell off revealing a pretty girl, not from Europe, but Iowa.
At this point, Mary returned and was introduced. She immediately became involved in the hugging and kissing.. I was still ahead of Mary with two hugs, to her one. I now was on an oratorical roll, “ In 58 years of marriage, my wife and I have only one fight.” I paused to assess the impact of that statement because I was even impressed myself. I then added, “the fight started the first day, and has been going on ever since with a new topic every day.” The woman shot out of her chair for the third time, saying what sounded like, “Oh, I love this guy!” I got my third hug and kiss, and Rita, who was approaching , and observing was wondering what old friends or relatives could these people be with all the hugging and kissing. Rita was introduced. She got a hug, and Mary got another one.
Midwesterners really are more outgoing. Bet I’d like it there
Rita’s plane was due around 12:30, so Mary and I went to the airport a little early to get ahead of a predicted snow storm. The baggage area was deserted except for a lone woman seated in the first seat of a long row of empty ones. Her attire caught my attention. She had some kind of cold weather cap I would expect to see in an Eastern European country, and a long quilted coat. The hat was pulled down, and the coat up over her chin, like she was freezing.
With time to kill, Mary and I went up to the next level to a place where coffee could be purchased. We got into a line of 6 or 7 people. The first in line was a big, young guy who would become familiar to us because the line didn’t move for about 10 minutes. The person in charge of that coffee booth , by her actions, made it clear she didn’t want to be there, and when I observed her hacking into her hand repeatedly, decided I didn’t want to be there either. We went back to the baggage area to await Rita’s arrival.
The same young woman was still there. Mary went for a walk, and the big guy from the coffee line showed up with coffee for the woman who turned out to be his wife. They seemed to be having a disagreement, when without any introduction,
She turned to me and asked how long I had been married. Never one to miss an opportunity to pontificate, I smiled, told her 58 years. I rose, walked over to her and her husband, and said, “I sensed that you were having some kind of disagreement. Perhaps you would be interested in some fatherly advice, counseling, even.” I noted sagely, “Disagreements are Ok to have. . “They are not cancer,”
I continued, addressing my remarks to the husband. I said, “One thing I have learned in 58 years is that some things my wife does to aggravate me are actually the things which keep her alive, and I have learned to tell myself, ‘Shut up, Bob, and be thankful that you have her.’ “ The woman leapt to her feet and gave me a big hug and a kiss. As though I needed further motivation, I continued asking the man, “Do you love your wife?” He assured me he did, and I said, “Then tell her you love her..” She was out of her seat again for another big hug and kiss. This time, her hat fell off revealing a pretty girl, not from Europe, but Iowa.
At this point, Mary returned and was introduced. She immediately became involved in the hugging and kissing.. I was still ahead of Mary with two hugs, to her one. I now was on an oratorical roll, “ In 58 years of marriage, my wife and I have only one fight.” I paused to assess the impact of that statement because I was even impressed myself. I then added, “the fight started the first day, and has been going on ever since with a new topic every day.” The woman shot out of her chair for the third time, saying what sounded like, “Oh, I love this guy!” I got my third hug and kiss, and Rita, who was approaching , and observing was wondering what old friends or relatives could these people be with all the hugging and kissing. Rita was introduced. She got a hug, and Mary got another one.
Midwesterners really are more outgoing. Bet I’d like it there
# posted by Noonski @ 3:00 PM 
