I was very lucky to have the opportunity to travel the U.S.A. — and at someone else’s expense. Being a small-town boy from Northern Illinois, I had never been anywhere until I got out of college and went to work for Atlas Supply Co. training sales and marketing personnel on automotive tires, batteries and accessories. Many of the stories that I write about have to do with my travels connected to this training position. Here’s one:
I was on a three-week trip that started in the state of Washington and my next stop was Salt Lake City, Utah. I had a flight out of the airport at Pasco/Richland/Kennewick, Wash., one of the great areas for apples. It has been so much fun traveling to all these areas of the country and seeing all the great things that our country has to offer. There is so much to see here in our country and you need to get into your car and try to see as much as you can whenever you have the chance.
It was a very early morning flight and I hadn’t had time to get any breakfast before I took off on my first leg of a five-, yes five, stop trip. I was all dressed up in my new thin summer suit with an empty stomach. I boarded the plane, one of those special planes they use out West where there are many landings and takeoffs between airports. It was about 6 o’clock and my eyes were barely open since I hadn’t even had a cup of coffee.
The plane was called a Fairchild something-or-other and had its wings above the passenger compartment. A really neat looking airplane, perfect for the frequent stops that have to be made in the mountainous areas. I don’t know why but I am going to find out.
The plane was full and everyone looks tired at this time of the day. Slowly, we worked our way down to the end of the runway. The engines were revved up and we took off down the smooth hard surface. It didn’t take long and we lifted up from the surface of the earth. God, I love to fly! I used to take flying lessons and wish I had the money to finish getting my license.
Our first of several stops was in about 30 minutes. To me, the fun of flying is the taking off and landing and I was going to get a lot of this on that day. We left some passengers and pick up a few. Off we went again. As we were leaving, the stewardess asked if we would like something to eat and, of course, I was more than ready. The only thing that sounded like food is hot “bullion.” For some reason, the stewardess waited until we are lifting off when she brings it to me.
The bullion was evidently over heated, as the plane hit an air pocket and the bullion fell right into my crotch and on my right wrist. I yelled and push back hard against the seat back. I broke off the seat! The stewardess quickly brought me something to wipe up the mess but my wrist got burned and there wasn’t much that could be done in the other area! What a time to be wearing a thin, summer suit! The whole incident was a little embarrassing, to say the least.
This was at the beginning of the trip and I had about four hours before we got to Salt Lake City, where I could change my clothes and to treat the areas that got burned.
This was funny looking back at what happened, but it surely wasn’t at the time that it happened. I imagine that after that they didn’t pass out hot bullion to passengers until the plane had settled down after taking off.
My trip ended up to be a great one. I spent the weekend in Salt Lake City going to movies for two days and took a lot of pictures with the new Polaroid Model 100 camera that was very popular at the time — the 1960s. That gives away my age again. I have to be more careful!
Written by Ted Anderson. Insurance agent Ted W. Anderson worked in sales for half a century, has lived in Albany since 1993. He is president of Dover Lane Neighborhood Watch. Send email to him at aj@thealbanyjournal.com.
