Hasta Luego!

Bad news: Paul and I were unable to get seats together on an oversold flight.  He said something about a 'gold member' as the reason he is in an exit row; this sounded like an inappropriate explanation to share in a public space so I didn't ask any further questions.

Good news: I have my headphones and Paul's trip has had its first noteworthy event. 

As he was arriving at O'hare in a black town car, another car abruptly pulled out and hit the passenger side of his vehicle, damaging the door and rear wheel. Fortunately Paul was ok, and he was able to leave the scene while the drivers yelled at each other - one in Russian the other in English. Paul tells me that it was 'people from Wisconsin' that were responsible for the crash, whatever that means.  As Jim would say, quoting an excellent movie, this crash was "good luck (in Haiti)". The quote is apropo; turns out the country club featured in the movie Jim referred to is actually based on Paul's father-in-law's country club. Incredible. 

Now that we are on the plane, I've already been subjected to jokes about sitting in steerage (row 23) and was asked by Paul to bring him tonic and water. All in good fun, and somehow I think I'll have the last laugh on this trip. 

Ok, airplane mode is about to be enabled. Might be a little while until the next post while I seek wifi. Or maybe not, international roaming fees seem worth the cost to tell my story.

Adios for now.