In the last twenty years, so much about air travel has changed for the worse. Flying really annoys me now. Probably due to the fact that I flew so much during the Golden-Age of air travel (as far as I'm concerned). As a kid -- thanks to my step-mothers, airline stewardess passes -- I flew all the time. I remember how much nicer it was, dare I say fun, now it just sucks. Unless of course, it's a first class international flight. I'll be getting that wonderful experience soon, when I use my stand-by pass for eastern Europe -- Yeaagh Baby!!
I don't remember a time before x-ray machines (I'm only 31), but I do remember it being very easy to greet or say good-bye to someone at the gate -- imagine that. Once, I caused a bit of a scene as the x-ray lady found a pistol in my carry-on bag. Good thing I was with my Mom. She quickly calmed the ladies nerves, telling her it was only a BB gun. Really, I didn't know any better! My Dad managed one of the smaller airports in the city, Flying Cloud, at the time. I remember going with my Dad to the airport security office at MSP International. On the office wall they had the Coolest display of all the weapons they had confiscated over the years (does anyone else remember this.. comment). Even pistols tacked up there, I was fascinated by it. Do you think you'd find such a display today? What happened to the easy-going macho attitude of the 70's, wish we could of had a few more decades like that.
Nowadays, to get to your airplane, you practically have to undress in front of some dim-wit inbreed, who tells you "I suggest you take off your shoes and belt". Really, I hope I don't have to go through this for the next 50 years, it's not right. I remember when you got Real Peanuts! What's happening to our country when they quit giving out peanuts because some allergic moron eats them, goes into convulsions and the airline gets sued for a $million?? I used to eat about three bags of peanuts while waiting for my chance to steal the little liquor bottles off the cart - of course, I had to do what my older brother told me to do ;-)
Those were the days of genuinely Good-Looking flight attendants (my step-mother was one of them!), in skirts no less, pushing carts laden with drinks and...Hot Meals! The glory days my parents enjoyed are over, decades of excess and expansion in America are coming to an end, now is like a hangover after a great party. Lawyers and the greedy rich rule the country.
Only one thing to do, become one of the increasingly small minority of Rich people and/or find a new, less spoiled frontier for awhile. Yeah, I'm working on both. I guess next time I fly, I'll take a bag of peanuts and some tiny liquor bottles and try to remember the good-ol days.
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