Terminal Woman
FROM CAP’N MERYL
“Terminal Woman”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2005-01-17-ask-the-captain_x.htm
This week was busy, as always. On Tuesday (Jan. 11th) I spoke to the Desk & Derrick Club of Denver. This is a group of people who either work in the oil field (no, not literally) or are related to those who work in the oil industry.
Although I’ve done over fifty radio, television, newspaper and webcast interviews, this is the first time I’ve faced an audience which expected me to say something without being asked something specific. It’s quite different from being interviewed, as you might imagine. Someone from this group heard me on a local radio program and asked me to be the featured guest-speaker.
I’m happy to say it was a very fun event for me. I started out by saying I don’t do speeches—I just have conversations—this one with sixty of my newest friends. From that statement on it was a piece of cake as I discussed the unexpected reaction to my book “The World At My Feet.”
I wrote this as a fun book, an autobiographical work which follows the unexpected path I followed when I decided to become an airline pilot in a world where women were not accepted in this profession.
The reaction I expected was one of amusement, and although that has been present, it hasn’t been as prevalent as the “highly inspirational and motivational” reviews I’m consistently getting.
And that reminds me: If you would like to order a signed copy of the book, my offer still stands. Just make out check or money order for $22 to WFS, Inc. and send to:
WFS, Inc.
c/o Meryl Getline
1253 Santa Fe Trail
Elizabeth, CO 80107
Cover price is $17.95 and the rest is for Priority Mail back to you. Specify EXACT name for whom book will be signed.
After my speech, I flew to San Diego where I attended my brother Ned’s (A.K.A. Smokey Joe, for those of you who’ve already read my book) 60th birthday dinner. It was a family reunion of sorts with all three of my brothers in attendance along with my parents and a few other relatives and friends. I’m fortunate in that my whole family is still alive and well.
From there it was on to Los Angeles where I taped a second half-hour segment (the first was a month ago) for the Gregory Mantell Show, which airs on Time Warner, Adlephia and Comcast in the Los Angeles area. Times for these and other broadcasts can be found on my website by clicking the Media Links button. Website is http://www.fromthecockpit.com/.
You’ll also find my Photo Gallery on the website. I’ve added a few more photos, all of which were taken within the last week with the possible exception of one sent in my one of my readers from Canada. I think you’ll enjoy his shot of the Rocky Mountains.
Then, early Friday morning I appeared on Fox News’ “Good Day in L.A.” on their “Ask The Expert” segment. From there it was straight back to LAX to hop a flight back to Denver. The airplane was full so I rode in the cockpit on the way home. It was a little embarrassing when the copilot turned around and said, “Didn’t I just see you on TV?” That set the stage for some interesting conversation all the way back to Denver as both pilots quizzed me about why I was on TV, the book, which was mentioned on TV, what’s it like behind the scenes, etc. etc.
When I last left off the travel portion of my previous Weekly Update, I had just finished laying over in Narita, Japan. Next stop was Seoul, Korea. We had absolutely gorgeous weather as we took off in the afternoon. The scenery was spectacular, with the dark blue waters of the Sea of Japan and the coastlines of both Japan and Korea clearly in view.
This brings me to the title of my update: “Terminal Woman.” I named it after the Tom Hanks movie “Terminal” which, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is about a foreign guy who, for political reasons, is not permitted to leave JFK Airport after he arrives in the U.S.
This was a short layover and, as it happens, the hotel we use is inside the airport. That’s just as well because this new airport is about 30 miles from the city of Seoul and we were short on time. Previously, in the late eighties, we flew into Gimpo Airport which was much closer to town.
When we got off the airplane in Seoul, we were immediately outside Security. So we went right back through again as the hotel is located inside Security. We never cleared Customs or Immigration or any of that.
We arrived late in the evening and the whole crew went to bed. About two in the morning I got up and went out into the terminal, and it was a scene right out of “Terminal.” It was just me and vast, empty corridors of Seoul’s Incheon Airport. Kinda spooky—kinda neat in its own weird way. This airport is large, very new with lots of glass and steel, and very spread out; I’m sure I walked the better part of a mile up and down the empty vastness of the completely deserted terminal.
When morning came I was really hungry and made the mistake of going to the hotel restaurant for toast and coffee. I made an interesting observation there: Korean waitresses, at least in this restaurant, do not walk—ever. They run. Even so, my one cup of coffee (bad) and toast (cold) was ten dollars! Highway robbery for coffee and toast any way you slice it (bad pun). I was somewhat mollified when they gave me a 40% crew discount—but still!
The flight back to Narita was just as pretty as the day before, but instead of the Sea of Japan being the intense dark blue of the previous day, it was churning with whitecaps and foam. The land around Tokyo is shaped somewhat like a triangle. As we approached it we could see what looked like a very angry sea beating upon the exposed coastline. But then, as we crossed over from one side of the triangle to the next, we saw an utterly calm coastline and quiet beach on the side protected from the wind.
We flew very close to Mount Fuji on the return and I once again bemoaned the fact that my camera’s battery had run out of juice. (No more—I ordered a spare for future trips in case I get fooled again by what looks like a fully-charged battery when it really isn’t).
Because of the direction of landing, we made a wide circle around the airport before finally landing to the south. My copilot pointed out the giant Budda I’d seen before only in pictures as we made our final turn toward Narita airport.
Another full day at our layover hotel in Narita, where I partook of the Japanese baths, whirpool and gorgeous indoor swimming pool. The ceiling is glass and it was an interesting vantage point as jumbo jet after jumbo jet flew just overhead on their departures from nearby Narita Airport.
Next night it was off to Chicago. We were treated to a rather subdued but nevertheless beautiful display of northern lights as we flew along the Aleutian chain. I pulled up the weather in Denver and in Barrow, Alaska, just on a whim. Barrow is on the north coast of Alaska and stays dark for months in sub-zero temperatures, but on this night the temperature was colder in Denver—just 6 degrees Fahrenheit. It was practically balmy in Barrow—15 degrees Fahrenheit. Last time I was in Barrow it was about 40 degrees below zero. That was in the early eighties when I flew extensively in Alaska.
We had great weather all the way on our flight until we got to Chicago, where a blizzard was in progress, but we made it in just fine and that was the end of another enjoyable, interesting and educational trip. With the weather really bad in Chicago and our flights very, very full, I went to a hotel to get some sleep before heading back to Denver and home.
Until Next Time,
Maintain Airspeed!
Cap’n Meryl
“Terminal Woman”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2005-01-17-ask-the-captain_x.htm
This week was busy, as always. On Tuesday (Jan. 11th) I spoke to the Desk & Derrick Club of Denver. This is a group of people who either work in the oil field (no, not literally) or are related to those who work in the oil industry.
Although I’ve done over fifty radio, television, newspaper and webcast interviews, this is the first time I’ve faced an audience which expected me to say something without being asked something specific. It’s quite different from being interviewed, as you might imagine. Someone from this group heard me on a local radio program and asked me to be the featured guest-speaker.
I’m happy to say it was a very fun event for me. I started out by saying I don’t do speeches—I just have conversations—this one with sixty of my newest friends. From that statement on it was a piece of cake as I discussed the unexpected reaction to my book “The World At My Feet.”
I wrote this as a fun book, an autobiographical work which follows the unexpected path I followed when I decided to become an airline pilot in a world where women were not accepted in this profession.
The reaction I expected was one of amusement, and although that has been present, it hasn’t been as prevalent as the “highly inspirational and motivational” reviews I’m consistently getting.
And that reminds me: If you would like to order a signed copy of the book, my offer still stands. Just make out check or money order for $22 to WFS, Inc. and send to:
WFS, Inc.
c/o Meryl Getline
1253 Santa Fe Trail
Elizabeth, CO 80107
Cover price is $17.95 and the rest is for Priority Mail back to you. Specify EXACT name for whom book will be signed.
After my speech, I flew to San Diego where I attended my brother Ned’s (A.K.A. Smokey Joe, for those of you who’ve already read my book) 60th birthday dinner. It was a family reunion of sorts with all three of my brothers in attendance along with my parents and a few other relatives and friends. I’m fortunate in that my whole family is still alive and well.
From there it was on to Los Angeles where I taped a second half-hour segment (the first was a month ago) for the Gregory Mantell Show, which airs on Time Warner, Adlephia and Comcast in the Los Angeles area. Times for these and other broadcasts can be found on my website by clicking the Media Links button. Website is http://www.fromthecockpit.com/.
You’ll also find my Photo Gallery on the website. I’ve added a few more photos, all of which were taken within the last week with the possible exception of one sent in my one of my readers from Canada. I think you’ll enjoy his shot of the Rocky Mountains.
Then, early Friday morning I appeared on Fox News’ “Good Day in L.A.” on their “Ask The Expert” segment. From there it was straight back to LAX to hop a flight back to Denver. The airplane was full so I rode in the cockpit on the way home. It was a little embarrassing when the copilot turned around and said, “Didn’t I just see you on TV?” That set the stage for some interesting conversation all the way back to Denver as both pilots quizzed me about why I was on TV, the book, which was mentioned on TV, what’s it like behind the scenes, etc. etc.
When I last left off the travel portion of my previous Weekly Update, I had just finished laying over in Narita, Japan. Next stop was Seoul, Korea. We had absolutely gorgeous weather as we took off in the afternoon. The scenery was spectacular, with the dark blue waters of the Sea of Japan and the coastlines of both Japan and Korea clearly in view.
This brings me to the title of my update: “Terminal Woman.” I named it after the Tom Hanks movie “Terminal” which, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is about a foreign guy who, for political reasons, is not permitted to leave JFK Airport after he arrives in the U.S.
This was a short layover and, as it happens, the hotel we use is inside the airport. That’s just as well because this new airport is about 30 miles from the city of Seoul and we were short on time. Previously, in the late eighties, we flew into Gimpo Airport which was much closer to town.
When we got off the airplane in Seoul, we were immediately outside Security. So we went right back through again as the hotel is located inside Security. We never cleared Customs or Immigration or any of that.
We arrived late in the evening and the whole crew went to bed. About two in the morning I got up and went out into the terminal, and it was a scene right out of “Terminal.” It was just me and vast, empty corridors of Seoul’s Incheon Airport. Kinda spooky—kinda neat in its own weird way. This airport is large, very new with lots of glass and steel, and very spread out; I’m sure I walked the better part of a mile up and down the empty vastness of the completely deserted terminal.
When morning came I was really hungry and made the mistake of going to the hotel restaurant for toast and coffee. I made an interesting observation there: Korean waitresses, at least in this restaurant, do not walk—ever. They run. Even so, my one cup of coffee (bad) and toast (cold) was ten dollars! Highway robbery for coffee and toast any way you slice it (bad pun). I was somewhat mollified when they gave me a 40% crew discount—but still!
The flight back to Narita was just as pretty as the day before, but instead of the Sea of Japan being the intense dark blue of the previous day, it was churning with whitecaps and foam. The land around Tokyo is shaped somewhat like a triangle. As we approached it we could see what looked like a very angry sea beating upon the exposed coastline. But then, as we crossed over from one side of the triangle to the next, we saw an utterly calm coastline and quiet beach on the side protected from the wind.
We flew very close to Mount Fuji on the return and I once again bemoaned the fact that my camera’s battery had run out of juice. (No more—I ordered a spare for future trips in case I get fooled again by what looks like a fully-charged battery when it really isn’t).
Because of the direction of landing, we made a wide circle around the airport before finally landing to the south. My copilot pointed out the giant Budda I’d seen before only in pictures as we made our final turn toward Narita airport.
Another full day at our layover hotel in Narita, where I partook of the Japanese baths, whirpool and gorgeous indoor swimming pool. The ceiling is glass and it was an interesting vantage point as jumbo jet after jumbo jet flew just overhead on their departures from nearby Narita Airport.
Next night it was off to Chicago. We were treated to a rather subdued but nevertheless beautiful display of northern lights as we flew along the Aleutian chain. I pulled up the weather in Denver and in Barrow, Alaska, just on a whim. Barrow is on the north coast of Alaska and stays dark for months in sub-zero temperatures, but on this night the temperature was colder in Denver—just 6 degrees Fahrenheit. It was practically balmy in Barrow—15 degrees Fahrenheit. Last time I was in Barrow it was about 40 degrees below zero. That was in the early eighties when I flew extensively in Alaska.
We had great weather all the way on our flight until we got to Chicago, where a blizzard was in progress, but we made it in just fine and that was the end of another enjoyable, interesting and educational trip. With the weather really bad in Chicago and our flights very, very full, I went to a hotel to get some sleep before heading back to Denver and home.
Until Next Time,
Maintain Airspeed!
Cap’n Meryl
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