I'm rolling down the runway it's Florida on Monday flying to Atlanta to catch another flight traveling up north back to New York if all goes well I'll be getting in a little past midnight The sun is slowly sinking runway lights are blinking we're picking up speed the wheels are lifting off the ground there is no denying the thrill I still feel in flying Orville and Wilbur sure turned things upside down I have traveled all these miles observing life here on the aisle talked to lots of strangers though some have not talked back but the two beside me are feeling fine toasting each other with wine her name is Wanda his name is Jack I ask what is the occasion for the celebration they say it's the anniversary of the day they met I ask Wanda how long has it been that you've been together with him she smiles and says why don't you try to guess Now this is kind of tricky they're at least in their 60s 30 years, 40 years is what I want to say but Jack raises his plastic glass says 'they thought it wouldn't last' we're celebrating 172 months today I do the math in my head wonder about what he said why not 14 years and 4 months and so I ask him why he said 'I just found I couldn't wait for a year to pass to celebrate' Wanda leaned over and said 'neither could I' When we land in Atlanta they say goodbye to me we head off in search of different gates and destinies I watch them walk away hand in hand a little old lady in love with a little old man Now I'm descending on a runway the last few minutes of this Monday no one is waiting for me at the gate but this is the path I've chosen and though sometimes I feel frozen in my indecision I keep giving in to Fate Chugging through this airport nothing's open at the food court everyone's gone home except for the skycaps and the guards and the all night taxi drivers who will get an extra fiver if they help this lonely traveler get her baggage in the car I do the math in my head think about what Jack and Wanda said they celebrate their anniversary as every month rolls by And as I'm crossing bridges, switching lanes one thought rattles round my brain: Wanda, you're a lucky woman Jack, you're a lucky guy