Flight from Omaha

It didn’t take long for me to notice her condition. She put a bag of licorice sticks in the seat pocket in front of her, and then had a helluva time getting them out—one at a time. When the drink cart came by, she ordered two gins. The flight attendant asked her if she wanted ice and mix—the woman ignored the question. She did take the cup with the ice, but impatiently. When she unscrewed the lid on the first gin bottle and chugged it, I really took notice. That smell never fails to get my attention—even after 32 years.