A couple of weeks ago, I was treated for  a visit from my son, Josh and my daughter-in-law, Barbara.  They flew in from Washington, DC to Phoenix, rented a car, and drove to Tucson—arriving just in time for dinner in one of the restaurants at my Senior Residence. In two days, we packed in a lot of fun, as well as selling my 21-year-old Saturn—a decision I had made before their arrival.  

Happily, the weather co-operated on the day they left, and they had no problem arriving at the Phoenix Airport.  They returned the car, and boarded the plane that was scheduled to leave on time at 3 pm.  The pilot announced readiness for take-off, and the flight attendant showed everyone ( who had never ridden in an automobile) how to fasten their seat belts.  

Then, suddenly A TRUCK HIT THE AIRPLANE!  Engines off! Seatbelts unbuckled!  Whereupon,  the pilot announced that there would be a delay, and an inspection of the plane, before takeoff.
So, the pilots left the cockpit, and after 40 minutes, announced that soon a maintenance crew would arrive and advise if the damage could be repaired.  I assume they meant to the plane and not the truck, which was now identified as a food truck—speedy delivery but that guy gets NO TIP!

After another 40 minutes, it was announced that the passengers would have to deplane, and those on their way to Dulles Airport would board another plane. Those with other
connections—Well, lots of luck with that!

So, Josh and Barbara waited and waited and waited until another plane was available, and finally they boarded their new flight to Washington, DC. Unfortunately, the crew on that plane had reached their legal flight limit, and another crew needed to be found to fly to Dulles Airport.

Unfortunately, the Phoenix Airport doesn’t have lots of substitute flight crews hanging around waiting for a truck to hit an airplane, so it took lots and lots more time to hire them from Central Casting.  Josh said that they really looked like pilots when they boarded the plane.

Okay, so only one more problem.  Before they could take to the sky, food had to be delivered—
not so much for the passengers, but for the pilots who couldn’t fly on empty stomachs, and, of course, the food was on the truck that hit the other plane, and by now it was inedible.

Happily, since Josh and Barbara flew First Class they did get dibs on two snack boxes.
The plane finally took off, and Josh and Barbara arrived home at 3 am.  which was very interesting since they were supposed to leave Phoenix at 3 pm.  But then, of course, there is a two-hour time difference which didn’t help at all!

So, here’s the rest of the story. The two travelers had to wake up at 6 am in order to go to the KITTY HOTEL to pick up their two vacationing kittens, who were very well rested and ready to play.  

My favorite reaction to this story was when I told a neighbor  about the truck hitting the plane, and he asked, “Were they in the air?”  I looked at him and said, “Do you mean the truck or the plane?”

Esther Blumenfel