Hi-Five Captain! 19JAN12

Post date: 22-Jan-2012 22:41:09

Day five of an equally numbered days trip. Just got back in from Bologna, it's still early, and so far the new roster hasn't come out yet. We're late getting in due to the typical winter operations headaches, and my last two flights have been changed. I get to scare Germans in Dusseldorf with Capt. Hirst, a gently chap who is most verbose yet composed.

We're boarding, our checks are done, and the last bus has just emptied next to the aircraft. I explain eagerly to Capt. Hirst my birthday plans when suddenly the new roster drops into my inbox. I download it eagerly, which days of debauchery have been assured. I did reserve the jokers, the days off, threw in countless requests. Surely, this has worked...

Off, 17-18-19 February.

I yelp in glee! I laugh and kick my feet excitedly on the floor. Surely the passengers must be wondering what's happened up front but I don't care. Tim's kind and excited smile shows my exhaultation is somewhat infectious. "I got the days! I got the days! Hi-Five Tim!" I proclaim, hand up high and palm opened for the congratulatory return slap. The gently fellow next to me considers this, as a composed voice inside me reminds that he probably doesn't hi-five as much as I do. Tim obliges, and happily Hi-Fives me.

I am on cloud nine, and the wheels are still down.