In the South
Arrival time in Jackson MS is after 10 p.m. and I am met by a local resident who has followed this Come Fly With Me trip. Terrance Ma is a professor of anatomy at the state’s only medical college and has become a very frequent flyer by spending some 43 weekends a year refereeing water polo matches around the U.S. For the next hour or two we talk about flying and security and all things frequent flyer related. He started traveling again right away and while he feels strongly that more should be done, he’s comfortable enough with things right now that he travels as much as he can and thinks now is a good time to take advantage of the special air fares and other offers out there right now. But first let me tell you about the night manager at the Holiday Inn Express in Jackson. I think her name is Janice and she’s a real pleaser. It is after midnight when I finally check-in and after registration, I inquire about a wakeup call. I tell her I need a 4 a.m., a 4:15 a.m. and a 4:30 a.m. as I have an important flight out in the morning. Apparently the system will not allow multiple wake up calls like that, so she tells me she’ll set the first one and if I’m not down in a few minutes, she’ll get up there and pound on my door herself until I’m wide awake. I end the night with a great laugh and feeling that I’m staying in the right place tonight. This is confirmed when I inquire about the shuttle to the airport. It doesn’t start until 6 a.m. and my flight is at 6 a.m. When I inquire about a cab, she then tells me she will call the shuttle driver at home and tell him to come in early to make sure I get to the airport when I need to be there. All this from a lady who really doesn’t know me from any other guest. A wonderful, wonderful lady whom I like so much that I leave the fruit basket in my room downstairs with a think you note to her the next morning as my shuttle bus driver heads off to the airport with me at 4:30 a.m. I’m happy about this hotel even though I only enjoy 3 1/2 hours of sleep here.