We take off and Sweetie Pie and I crank our necks at the window to catch the last possible glimpse of Jamaica. Because the flight originates in Jamaica we get free TV and movies. Sweetie Pie and I are political junkies and we settle in to watch Ides of March. Just after passing into Florida the plane makes a long bank turn to the right. It should not be doing that and for a moment I think the worst. Things are about to get real strange.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” comes the pilot’s voice over the intercom, “we’re going to be making an emergency landing in West Palm Beach. We’re having a passenger incident that requires immediate attention. We’re sorry for the inconvenience and hope you will understand that we would do the same thing for you. We should be on the ground in 10-15 minutes.” We see activity at the bulkhead row where the elderly lady had been seated. She is lifted from her seat and lain down on the floor. Two attendants disappear to the floor and a third is standing above them counting out and giving commands. This goes on for some time. We see the attendant shake his head but keep counting, keep prompting action. A short while later he shakes his head then drops it into his hands. The plane flies well out over the Atlantic before it turns finally to make its approach to West Palm Beach. There is no need to hurry now.
