Boy I feel like I'm in the old days. For some reason tonight, I'm watching the Asian markets to get some sort of sign of what's going on. I see the markets are up but I also see Japan Air Lines (JAL) is probably going to file for bankruptcy in March and fire 10,000 people after taking a $12.2bn charge. Yes thats Billion with a "B". Both Delta and American Air are trying to get a piece of JAL but it doesn't look like the Japanese government wants to give up the prize. Which reminds me of a story.
The last time I was in Tokyo was 11 years ago. Went out in the Rapongi district. Was the biggest person walking down the street. Saw some very odd behavior. All that stuff. Got on the plane to go home right before Christmas. We are about 50 feet off the ground and some Japanese fellow next to me in First Class lights up a Marlboro Red. Mind you this behavior is not illegal at the time. He chain smokes the first one and lights up another. Now I'm no prude but come on guy. We got a 13 hour flight and you are going to blow this smoke in my mug the whole time? Then it dawns on me. I got a box of fine cigars in my carry on bag! I believe they were called Hoyo de Monterey Double Coronas. They are a bit big. So I fire one up and just look at my seatmate and smile. Of course he was nervous to fly and needed 2 butts and he was going to sleep but thats too bad. Try the cloud of smoke up YOUR ass now Kenji. And of course I couldnt have just one cigar or one drink. No, it was a one man party. Then it got really good.
There was some Texan on the plane. He comes over to my seat and screams, "They let you smoke cee-gars on this plane?!?!?" I say to him, "Well, my man, Tatsuya here (who was now waking up again) sparked up some Marlboros before we got off the ground so I figured it was smoke em if you got em." Tex screams, "Hotdamn!" Goes back to his chair, lights up his own stash, and its an old fashioned smokers cabin. Never before had I thought a 13 hour flight could be so fun.
We get about 45 minutes from JFK and I have some remnats of I dont know what number cigar left and the stewardess (sorry, flight attendant) comes over and says, "Oh I'm sorry sir there is NO cigar smoking on this plane." I look over at "Tex" across the way who is giving me the thumbs up and mouthing "you are the @$#@%!%% man!" I look back at the flight attendant and smile. I say, "Oh no cigar smoking on this plane?!? I didnt know. I'm sorry." And I start thinking to myself, "holdup I've been smoking cigars in this plane for the better part of 12 hours." It then dawns on me she could care less. She smiles and takes the nub from me.
Now I read another tough story for JAL and I get sad. Can you blame me? Do they still have smoking on those flights?
Comments