come fly with me

It’s finally time! It’s time to hop on a plane and take that getaway you’ve been waiting for all year.

You’ve worked hard, you’ve chosen your destination, planned your itinerary and purchased your tickets.

You’ve shrinkwrapped all your clothes and crammed them and your essentials into a 9”x 14”x 22” carry-on bag, so that you won’t be charged an extra 25 bucks each way for luggage and so that your bag will be stored reassuringly above your own head and you won’t run the risk of checking it and having it wind up in Bogota, Columbia (which has happened).

You’ve parked your car in Row 64-G of the Wherez-My-Car lot, and you’ve stashed your ticket in a very special place that you will completely forget a week from now.

You’ve snaked through a security line so long that you became briefly comatose and then finally awoke expecting to see Splash Mountain in front of you.

wait your turn. Now the flight attendant is calling for their Premium boarding:

“All our Diamond members, Medallion members, Pendant members, Ornament members, Olympians, Super-Duper-SpecialElite Club members, Nobel Prize Winners and Poet Laureates may board.”

That’s not you. You watch the crowd file into the jet bridge while an even larger crowd gathers, expectantly.

Robin’s Nest

“It’s now time for Priority boarding: Our Platinum members and Gold members, our Comfort level, Cushy level, Posh level and also our Virgin Lithuanian Fly Club members, please come to the agent, with your tickets in hand.”

Moments pass.

“Zone 1 may now board: that’s Silver, Silver medallion, Blue Silver, Flying Silver, Hi-Ho Silver, Corporate Silver and High Achievers.”

You’ve escalated down and up and side to side and walked and trammed and shuttled and peoplemoved to your terminal.

You’ve found your gate and settled yourself between a teenager who is working his way through the jumbo bag of fried onion rings and a sleeping woman who is flying stand-by and has been there since last Tuesday.

At last, it’s time to board!

You listen as the flight attendant announces that the crew is now ready for “Pre-board,” which allows mothers additional time to get on the plane with their young children who all happen to have ear-infections. (I was one of those moms).

You check your ticket and

Still not you. “Zone 2 may now board: Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Magnesium, Germanium, Plebeians and the Red Birds and Blue Birds reading groups.”

There’s only one zone left, and it’s got to be yours.

“Zone 3: Gallium, Boron, Silicon and the rest of the Periodic Table may now board, plus Paper and Wood.

“There is no more room in the overhead compartment for your carry-on bags, Zone 3, but we will check them for you for your convenience. We assure you that, although you will not find them in baggage claim at your destination, they will safely arrive in Bogota, Columbia.

“We hope you enjoy your flight.”

And so your trip begins. Let’s hope the rest of your vacation is first class.

Benson Manor is a 76-unit affordable senior housing community designed with stone and sturdy wood-like siding. Each apartment is approximately 540 square feet. Benson Manor is conveniently located close to shopping, churches, medical facilities, and a major bus route.

Residents must be 62 years of age or older. Some units have special features for mobility and sensory impaired persons. Income limitations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Gross income must not exceed $23,650.00 for one person and $27,000.00 for two persons.