I was in Chicago at O'Hare last week and had a couple hours to spare before my flight back to Nashville. Was looking at the departure schedules on the board and saw a flight to Paris that was just boarding. I hurried to the gate and watched people loading for Paris and sat there and watched the plane for almost an hour until it left the gate. Would have loved to have been on it. One of the items on my bucket list is to fly to Paris first class. Now at 70, I doubt that will ever happen, but still hope I get to go back in 16. My health has always been very good but was just was diagnosed with a condition called myasthenia gravis. It started with blurred vision in my left eye and within a few days the eye lid was closed and I could not open it. Vision is still 20/20 but can't open the eye. It is a muscle disease that attacks the eye and face. No cure but I started treatment last week and hope it gets better with the meds. Even if it does not get better, I still plan to take BOE14 next year. I can go and see half of what everyone else see's. LOL!
I'm sure many of you have also done crazy things like sitting and watching and wishing you were on that plane also.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3255 posts
I wish you the best with your treatment.
You CAN make your dream trip to Paris happen if you fly Business class instead of first. I just checked Open Skies ( a subsidiary of British Airways) and for next April you can fly from New York to Paris in Business Class on either BA, AA, or Open Skies for $2900 round trip. The advantage of Open Skies is that it is a direct flight---no plane change. So you would truly board a plane for Paris.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
I have done the same many times. Dreaming is good but actually getting on that plane and heading for one of those destinations is even better. I think you should book the trip described by Sasha right now. It sound like a relatively reasonable price for business class direct to Paris and what price do you put on a dream? I, too, wish you the very best with your treatments.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3255 posts
Also, the Open Skies website has flight + hotel packages for Paris which may save you money. Or if you want to that the RS BOE tour just book your Paris flight to accommodate the right dates. Does it start in Paris?
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14544 posts
Tony, sorry for the Myasthenia diagnosis. My Dad had it and it actually went in to remission several times, then the last remission lasted at least 7 or 8 years before he died at 91 (from causes other than the Myasthenia!). For him, stress aggravated it but you will have to see how your disease responds. He could tell right away that it was back because of the vision issues, which he described as not exactly double vision but more that the vision in one eye was tipped.
Fingers crossed that you will be on that BOE next year!
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3838 posts
Tony, wishing you the very best results with your treatment. I know you will be on that RS BOE14 tour next year, and I know you will get to Paris! As for sitting in an airport for business travel, yet dreaming of jumping on that next plane to Paris, or to England, or to somewhere else in Europe...I think we've all done it! Perfectly normal for the gang on this forum!
Posted by
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
Hi Tony - good for you for not letting your physical problem stop you from doing what you love! I have a genetic condition which in lay terminology is called thinning of the retina. In my case it's caused by severe nearsightedness (I see 20/20 with glasses, thankfully.) There's no preventive treatment, only laser surgery in case a tear or hole develops. I've had it since high school and see a retina specialist and my regular eye doctor once a year. Each time I've told them I'm going to Europe, they tell me that if I develop a problem, I should get on a plane as soon as possible and come home. I keep that in mind and then I go and enjoy my trip. Life throws all kinds of things at us; we'd all do well to take your (ungiven) advice and follow our passions as long as we can.
I've been in many a train station in Europe and always love looking at the arrivals/departures board, knowing I could buy a ticket at the last minute and go to so many places just from that point.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Also sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I encourage you to work with it to make the next, and future, trips happen.
Any time I see a departure board with Rome listed as the destination, I calculate what it would cost to change my itinerary and get on that train/plane.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
Tony - I do the same thing. I was at O'Hare one time and watched a flight to Tokyo board. My wife had to come find me because our flight to Phoenix was getting ready to board. When I explained what I was doing, she smiled and said "What am I going to do with you".
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I was in the Albany train station yesterday looking at the departure time for the Adirondak which was headed to Montreal. Our train was delayed due to a stuck bridge and so we had plenty of time to dream before boarding for NYC.
Tony, I hope you're able to resolve your vision issues. I'm sure you'll likely still see more than many others even if you can only use one eye!
Pam