In First Class and Out of Place
I’m a blue collar kid, and although at this point in my life I’ve built a white collar life I often find myself in positions where i feel utterly out of place.
Growing up I had a friend Peter who cane from a wealthy family. The first time I ate dinner at his house was a revelation. The confusion on my face must have shown and his mom asked me to help in the kitchen. Away from everyone else she did a quick place settng and explained fancy eating to me. A lesson that still serves me well, she was a truly kind and wonderful woman.
Kicking off my adventure today has been wild and fun. Got lost on the way to JFK and two other guys made the same mistake I did. One was from UC Davis and we have mutual Sierra College friends. I met a beautiful Brazillian woman at the airport with her service dog Pandora, she took quite a liking to me, the dog, not the girl although the girl was very nice. I got to speak Portuguese twice tonight and then after security got my real treat.
You see I cashed in all of my air miles for this trip so I could fly international business class to Scotland. This means I have access in the US to the executive lounge. I’d been in an Admiral’s Club at the airport before but it’s been years. I expected some free snacks and newspaper, free drinks but i should have known better. This is rich people land and the more you pay the better the freebies.
There is a full free buffet, free top shelf drinks and super comfy chairs. So for dinner I had seared tenderloin, miso glazed salmon, pork tenderloin, cauliflower with wild mushrooms, waldorf salad and a New York standard, a black and white cookie for dessert.
Of course as a blue collar kid and proud hiker-trash I feel completely out of place, but I’m here and happy. I earned my ticket and place at this table, but I still feel out of place. Maybe a wee bit of Makers Mark will help me relax. – Rev Kane
The Ministry of Happiness 
Enjoy your trip and make sure to sample a wee dram of the adult beverages Scotland has to offer! I hope you find the Scottish folks to be as hospitable as we did! Looking forward to reading more of your adventures!
Loved the people last time and they’ve got Glen Livet on the plane, a little 12 year old night cap.
Best of luck suffering through!
MWD
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I’ll do my best
Michael, I felt to same way when a passenger I met on my flight from D.C. to Brussels invited me into the Brussels Air lounge to wait for our flight to Africa. An interesting guy who had been with the State Department during the 90’s and 20’s. I ate breakfast and lunch, but felt too out of place to take a shower.
Thanks Steve, nice to know I’m not the only one.
If you enjoy Scottish folk music, those concerts should be good. One great performer I have seen that will be at these is Jim Malcolm.
Sunday 12th August, 2018 Edinburgh Festival Folk at the Oak, 8.30pm. Only 30 seats so buying in advance is advised. Tickets £8/£6 concessions. Venue is downstairs at the Royal Oak in Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, 8.30pm. Tickets available at the Royal Oak or online from the Edinburgh Fringe Box Office, here https://tickets.edfringe.com/box-office (to find the event, put Festival Folk at the Oak in the search field, then choose Sunday 12th August.
Thursday 16th August, 2018 Inchture, Tayside, Scotland Inchture Folk Night in Inchture Church, 7.30pm. Tickets £7.50 at the door (includes cup of tea, coffee or juice). Also includes 10% off a meal at the Inchture Hotel pre-concert. Venue postcode: PH14 9RN.
Thanks for the info but I’ll be on the trail both of those nights.
You deserve the upgrade and should enjoy it to the fullest. When you take over the cockpit, then we’ll worry… 🙂
As well you should 🙂