[tonyw]

Michelle, I used to be on the road at least a week a month. It is not like what Doug and the guys getting paid to fly did, but that certainly qualifies me as a frequent traveller.

You could always tell who the newbies and the two times a year people were. They were the ones who whined and complained.

You do it enough, and you realize, hey, weather happens. Mechanicals happen. Delays happen. You roll with it.

And when the newbies and the two time a year people start whining, you get more irritated at them than you do the flight delays. The conversation usually goes like this:

Newbie: I can't believe this flight is late. Oh, my God, I'm never flying this airline again. Can you believe them?

Me: It happens.

Newbie: What do you mean it happens? They're wrong, they're screwing us. How can you be so calm.

Me: It happens. Now if you don't mind, I'm reading the paper.

Newbie: Shocked look, then goes and looks for someone else to listen to his whine.