group 9

in the concourse/walking toward me/a fortyish guy wearing his allegiance to ohio state

i’d never met him but i congratulated him

he said Thanks a touch apprehensive a touch smug

his football team had last night defeated the texas longhorns

and as I sat on a just-vacated seat/they started allowing group 3 passengers on the plane

scant minutes later i and my fellow group niners are let to board

scant minutes later i am strapped in with seat 23F

one minute later I am remembering/the car ride to the airport/on icy roads

right now the welcomer to flight 474/has mentioned the need to do some defrosting

but assures us we are under clear skies

.

ever the pessimist i worry-wart in my seat and wonder if this my last message

so to give it the gravitas it may need/I hereby state that it is possible to love everyone/and hate no one

love sweetens the psyche and hate venomizes the psyche

my universal advice to everyone in five words is “have good safe challenging fun”

happy landings

Note: At the time of this writing, the author is still alive.