So far as I know, there are only three things in life about which one must be very careful: surgery, flying and how you treat other people. The rest will take care of itself. So there are elaborate rules that govern these three critical domains. This explains the preflight inspection, the need for a careful diagnosis prior to treatment and the usefulness of the thank you note. Rules exist in many other areas, but often they seem beside the point, or, in some instances, risible. But for these three basic accomplishments of mankind, rules are there for a reason.
Southwest Flight 2903 is buttoned up and the jetway is clear. The “classic” 737-300 is over two hours late on the Manchester (NH) to Tampa trip due to thunderstorms throughout the Northeast. A frequent passenger on this flight, I’ve learned to track the airplane that makes up 2903 as it leaves Midway and goes to Baltimore, then to MHT. Though the airplane made it to BWI on time, it got hung up there; so much for my careful calculations. There will be more surprises, it turns out.
