Chris and Manny, my SW flight #1952 seatmates

I had another great return flight to Arizona on Southwest Airlines last night, and in addition to meeting flight attendants Dallon and Cindy, spent time with my two very cool seatmates, Manny Ferreira and Chris Lima, members of the Mens Senior Baseball League.   They were traveling to Arizona with former Red Sox starting pitcher Oil Can Boyd to play in the SMBL championships.

To make the six hour flight go faster, I handed out snacks to Southwest passengers and talked to Manny and Chris about baseball.   Before I developed  piriformis syndrome, I would spend most flights reading a book and not talking much at all, other than to say “pass the peanuts.” 

Manny and Chris were a pleasure to sit next to.    We talked about New England, Arizona, baseball, and I watched on as they played several card games, during which Manny was clearly the winner.   They joked with each other as well as with Oil Can Boyd, who was two rows behind us.  They asked about my mother, my public relations business, and the presentations I was working on during the few times I actually sat down during the flight.

Opportunity comes with adversity.     If I were still the old “healthy” sitting Linda, I doubt I would have made three new friends.  Now I know all about the Mens Senior Baseball League and that ash bats still break easily, and that Tony Conigliaro unfortunately died in 1990.

Chris – you owe me that picture of me standing in the aisle with Oil Can Boyd!