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December 28, 2017

A Plane, An Empty Seat and a Former Vice President

33 Comments/ 69/ 1

My last trip home from Alabama proved to be more exciting than I had anticipated.  Air travel is never predictable and as Chris peeled off to fly to parts unknown for business I found myself sitting in the exit row (more room) on a CRJ700 Delta flight on my quick flight from Atlanta to Asheville. I  was thrilled to be sitting alone in the aisle seat with no window seat occupant.  Any time I get a row to myself it makes me happy – more room to spread out if need be and on these little connection flights it is always a bonus to not have to share.  Not that I am not a good sharer – I think I am – but sometimes it is nice to travel solo.

As the flight attendant was urging us to all settle in 3 or 4 impeccably dressed men boarded the plane and found seats behind me.  I was a little bit surprised because it was within a minute of closing the door and they did not appear to be the usual late arrivals.  They were calm, cool and collected and did not act like they were late to the gate.  But whatever — I was happy they made it and passed me by.

As I was reveling in my aloneness another impeccably dressed gentleman boarded and nodded to me that he was indeed my seat partner so as I unbuckled and he folded his navy blue dress coat and placed it in the overhead bin my mind was telling me that I recognized him.

He settled in next to the window with his bag that had a banana nestled on top and I commented to him about his lunch and he indicated that not only was it lunch it was breakfast as well and he offered me some.  I declined (who am  I to take a man’s lunch and breakfast?) and he settled in, ate his banana and proceeded to play chess on his phone almost the entire flight.

Before we took off he gave a little salute out the window to someone on the tarmac and it confirmed what I thought.  Even though I am not a hugely political person I did recognize the former Vice President Joe Biden.   I had seen an alert on my phone earlier that he was going to be in Asheville that day to promote his new book, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, 

Who would have thought that the former Vice President would fly coach in a small plane?  Certainly not me.  The flight attendant walked slowly down the aisle giving him the eye and even though Mr. Biden did not notice I did and I could tell that the flight attendant was a little starstruck.  Soon enough he came back down with  paper and pen and leaned across me to ask for an autograph which Mr. Biden graciously offered up  complete with the phrase “Keep the faith.” .

While we did not talk much during the short 37 minute flight I was honored to share a row with him and respected his privacy.  I like to read people’s body language and it was pretty evident that he just wanted to fly without engaging in lots of conversation so while I listened to podcasts and played solitaire on my phone he played chess on his and we were the perfect seat mates.

When we deplaned I thanked him for his leadership and wished him a good stay in Asheville and he gave me a dazzling smile and wished me well.  When I walked off the plane there were police everywhere and I quipped to them “all this for me?” and they just smiled and laughed and I assured them that the Vice President was coming  which I am sure they already knew but hey –I like to be helpful.

It was a nice flight and just proves that you never know who is going to be flying the friendly skies with you.  This is up there with my other brush with fame with Norman Reedus in the Atlanta airport .  You can read about that encounter here.

No, I did not take any pictures with him.  It just did not seem appropriate and sneaking a picture was impossible since we were sitting so closely and just seemed wrong anyway.  So you will have to just take my word for it.  You never know where my travels will take me and who I will meet, do you?

Have you ever had a brush with fame?  I would love to read about it so make sure you leave a comment in the comments section.  All comments this month mean a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause the Knox Foundation.

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33 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Dianna
    December 28, 2017 at 06:49 am

    How about that? It is true that you never know!
    I suppose the closest I’ve been to a situation like that is in the garage area at some Nascar races. Motor Man had a good buddy (he’s passed on now) who owned one of the teams, and he would get us credentials at the races we attended. It just never felt right to ask the drivers for their autograph or a picture when you were in their “space”…. kinda wish I had now though….!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 07:39 am

      Oh I am sure Motor Man has some great connections in the racing world. I know what you mean though—it kind of seems like the wrong time to be getting autographs. I totally understand why people would ask but sometimes I am too timid to ask or just want to respect their privacy a bit. Or something. I don’t know. But how fun that you had some of those experiences which will last forever.

      Reply
      1. Dianna
        December 28, 2017 at 09:02 am

        I completely understand what you’re saying! I think respect is the key word!

        Reply
  2. Darlene
    December 28, 2017 at 06:53 am

    How cool! Sounds like you handled it well. I’m sure he was pleased it was someone like you who sat beside him and respected his privacy. I traveled a lot for business a few years ago and met some interesting folks, usually at the hotel I was staying at. I met Gary Burghoff (Radar O’Reilly) Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) and members of the band, Twisted Sister. All very pleasant folks.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 07:37 am

      Oh Radar—that would have been cool! You had some very nice brushes with fame!

      Reply
      1. Darlene
        December 29, 2017 at 07:58 am

        I went down the elevator with Radar and he had his little white poodle with him. Of course I made a fuss over the dog and I could tell he was very fond of her. It was cool to meet him.

        Reply
        1. Beth Ann Chiles
          December 29, 2017 at 04:17 pm

          Oh what fun. That would have been exactly what I would have done as well!

          Reply
  3. Jeni / JeniEats (@JeniEats)
    December 28, 2017 at 07:31 am

    What an experience! What a guy to offer you part of his banana too lol.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 07:37 am

      I must admit it was pretty cool. I wasn’t really starstruck but it is nice to see “famous” people as “real” people.

      Reply
  4. Sara Broers (@TravelWithSara)
    December 28, 2017 at 08:04 am

    I LOVE how you recapped this experience and shared it with all of us.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 08:06 am

      🙂 Thanks Sara. It’s fun when unexpected things happen and this was definitely one of them. You just never know, do you?

      Reply
  5. susi_snaps
    December 28, 2017 at 08:42 am

    What a cool story to be able to tell! I’m like you and wouldn’t have asked for an autograph. I think you can kind of read the mood and see how the person is behaving. But you will always have the memories and this blog post! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 09:25 am

      Exactly ! I will always have the memories. As long as I can remember. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Virginia
    December 28, 2017 at 09:03 am

    I just love that you were the perfect seat mate for Mr. Biden! What a great story – and I would have said the same thing when I got off the plane. “all this for me?” Baby Mitch and I once shared a flight with Stevie Wonder.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 09:25 am

      Ohhh Stevie Wonder! Now that would be fun as well! That was one to put in the baby book!

      Reply
      1. Virginia
        December 29, 2017 at 06:57 am

        And of course it was put in the baby book!

        Reply
  7. oncealittlegirl
    December 28, 2017 at 09:43 am

    You, my dear, are such a sweetheart. Someday, when you are rich and famous, I hope to be your seatmate. I’ll tell everyone I knew you when.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 09:48 am

      Haha! I think you will reach that status far before I do. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    December 28, 2017 at 09:44 am

    I would have had a difficult time just sitting there and not talking (uh, I mean interviewing him). It sounds like you were the perfect seat mate.

    I wonder if a background check was done on you prior to his boarding. I bet all passengers were screened behind the scenes.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 09:47 am

      🙂 Well I figured if he wanted to talk to me he would! And we did talk a bit but not excessively. Those little planes are really loud to begin with and it is difficult to carry on a conversation. But it was one to put in the memory books, that is for sure.

      Reply
  9. Katy Flint
    December 28, 2017 at 09:57 am

    What a neat experience! When my mom was in the hospital in Rocheseter back in the 90’s, my dad and I were eating breakfast at Denny’s and in walked a famous football player for the Vikings. While we recognized him, no pictures or autographs either because he was with his family (young kids at the time) and I wanted to respect that as well! Fun story!!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 09:58 am

      It kind of takes you aback when something like this happens but then I have to think that they are just normal people like us as well, right? Love that you recognized a Viking player. What a great memory!

      Reply
  10. dawnkinster
    December 28, 2017 at 10:37 am

    I’m glad you expanded. When I saw this on FB a few days ago I asked my husband…”Wouldn’t you think that the VP would have Secret Service around? Not just fly by himself in coach??” Husband shrugged his shoulders. Now I know that the VP DID have Secret Service and I feel much better. So nice that you got to spend 37 minutes with him even if you didn’t talk much! He’s a class act.

    I literally ran into the mayor of Detroit years ago. He and I were both at the finish of the Detroit marathon, and he was looking the other way, as was I and we slammed into each other. Turns out he was watching his office manager (who turned out to be his girlfriend) finish the race. He ended up in prison, still there today. Still married though, and not tot he girlfriend he kept on the side. He is not a class act.

    Reply
  11. Annette Komminsk
    December 28, 2017 at 11:20 am

    I really liked the story. You definitely handled the situation with more class than most. I understand the feeling of questioning how much interruption is acceptable. Over 30 years ago I was flying with my parents and Daddy spotted Roy Rogers. Daddy walked over and said he’d like to shake the hand of a fellow NRA member. I remember seeing Mr. Rogers smile and reach out and shake Daddy’s hand. They spoke for a minute and then went on their ways but it was impressive seeing my father handle the situation so cool.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 28, 2017 at 11:22 am

      I can totally see your father doing that! I do think respect is the key and your daddy showed that. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  12. Encore Voyage
    December 28, 2017 at 11:23 am

    What a great story, and you’ll have memories forever. I love your discretion and respect for the man. I’m sure he appreciated it, too! ~ Lynn

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 29, 2017 at 04:19 pm

      Well I am not sure if he appreciated it but it seemed like the right thing to do, you know? Thanks for the sweet words!

      Reply
  13. Mary Ellen
    December 29, 2017 at 12:02 am

    Well, I didn’t get to sit NEXT to someone famous but I did have a brush with a “famous” person. I was going with Frank to see Mother Teresa later in the evening at a large stadium. I happened to look to my side as I was driving through town running errands and she was in the back of a van that said Missionaries of Charity. I was so excited that I scooted my car right next to the van and beeped at the van twice. The driver (also a nun) must have told her and she looked over and I waved at her. Of course, I could now see she had rosary beads in her hand because she was praying, of course. She looked over and laughed and smiled and kept praying. I’m glad she could smile about my silliness.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      December 29, 2017 at 04:18 pm

      That SO beats my story! I LOVE IT and I can see you doing just that! Honking and waving wildly! Thanks for sharing!!!!

      Reply
  14. Mark
    December 29, 2017 at 07:11 pm

    Holy cow, you are so fortunate. I thought you’d never beat your Norman Reedus encounter, but sitting next to “Uncle Joe,” for an entire flight, would have sent me for a loop. He has always seemed like a really decent man to me, funny, and not overly impressed with himself. And, he brought a banana to eat, which says everything! You showed admirable restraint in giving him his space; that was probably the most considerate thing you could have done, very gracious of you.
    My best claim is sharing an airport shuttle with Geraldo Rivera. Not even close to your experiences!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      January 01, 2018 at 04:59 pm

      It was pretty cool, I must admit, and even though we did not talk non stop we exchanged enough conversation to make me feel good. I am going to have to get his book now, aren’t I?

      Reply
  15. Presidential Teapot - Teapot Tuesday - It's Just Life
    January 02, 2018 at 06:01 am

    […] teapot?  Why, of course!!!  It kind of fits in with my recent brush with fame with former Vice President Joe Biden. Who doesn’t want to have tea with the presidents?  Made in 1966 this teapot features the […]

    Reply
  16. Josh
    January 03, 2018 at 11:09 am

    You are a famous people magnet! Wishing you the best of this new year!

    Reply

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