(no subject)
Trans World Airlines -commonly and affectionately known as "TWA." It was one of those airlines whose glory days peaked before the 90's and spent most of its twilight years in constant struggle. Mariam, one of Janna's friends, was wearing a t-shirt that sported TWA and it's classic global logo printed on the front. It took me nearly ten minutes after she stepped in the house to finally register what she was actually wearing. I went BALISTIC when I saw TWA across her chest. I briefly explained how TWA is often mistaken to have went out of business along with Braniff and Eastern Airlines. When, in fact, the carrier was bought out by American Airlines in 2000 (and crippled the city of St. Louis. Imagine Seattle loosing Microsoft) It was nice to see someone wearing a vintage t-shirt bearing the livery of a forgotten airline; a legend, more like it, that carries a certian retro-American nostalgia.
On the flip-side of things, Aloha Airlines definitely does not carry any nostalgia. This carrier unexpectedly took a sharp tumble within the past two weeks and came to an abrupt demise this weekend. Hawaii's beloved version of Southwest Airlines announced that it just can't go any further. No plan retirement day. No big, sorrowful celebrations. No final water canon salute for the last plane to taxi in. They're just gonna quit. Imagine running 'the mile' in gym class or in high school track. After a couple of laps, you barely have enough gas to finish the final two. But most of the time you keep going; despite the pain and expected defeat. Well, Aloha Airlines has admitted it can't finish those last two laps and will just walk off the track instead.
I made it a point to fly Aloha when Janna & I visited Hawaii. The backbone of the Aloha fleet was the original 737-200. Made in 1960-something, the plane gave off a tremendous thunder during takeoff that was so tumultuous your seat and armrest would vibrate and you could see the plastic windows rattle. Aloha was the last airline to fly these old beauties in the U.S. Now, all of them have been converted into freighters that haul frozen fish to Alaska.
I guess it's just sort of sad (perhaps even more sad that I feel this way about a stupid airplane).
Tomorrow will be a new day. In fact, a new season as the Mariners begin the first game of their 162 game race to the World Series. I am not a baseball fanatic. But there is something about the start of baseball season that I use as a marker of Spring and how time has quickly brought us into the 2nd quarter of the year.
Eh.