Summertime means vacation-time. This year, high fuel prices may be keeping many people closer to home, but there are still a few of us diehards that can't resist the "treat" of flying on a commercial airliner to a faraway place.

Such as in my case. You see, about three weeks ago, my oldest daughter made me a grandma, and I couldn't wait to meet my new grandson. Since she and her husband live in Rhode Island, and I live outside Los Angeles, I booked a United flight, the cheapest through Expedia, for my youngest daughter and I to fly roundtrip from Los Angeles to Providence via Chicago.

It's amazing to me that so many people converge in a single location, an airport - and then fly away into different directions. I often wonder where are they coming from, where are they going - and why? To me, it is even more like deja vue when people on your first flight leg, end up on your second flight leg. Who would have known that so many people are going the same route that I am??

I usually try to make the best of an all-day sit-in-the-airport, then sit-on-a-plane travel excursion. I arm myself with my favorite cooking magazines, the latest James Patterson book, and I am ready to catch up with my reading.

Our morning flight out from Providence to Chicago was, yes, delayed. So, I got a muffin and a caffeine drink to down while we're, yes, waiting at the gate. Suddenly, I hear a man pacing back and forth behind us, sounding a bit agitated, and talking loudly on a cellphone. My curiosity has peaked, and I strain to hear more. Words like "protocol" and "heart splint" lead me to believe the man is a doctor. Impressive. But, then I hear words like "accounting" and "books" and "how could they" and I forgot about the doctor part.

We were set to board in seating category "2", which made me feel pretty good. It's actually right after the jokers who spent $1,000 more than I did for their seats and before the poor souls who are destined for the back of the plane.

We settled into our seats, which I had to pay an upgrade for - an extra $78, so that my daughter and I could sit together. Oh, and by the way, we had six inches of additional leg room.

I had plenty of time to turn off my cell phone, tuck my stuff under the seat in front of me, pull out my water bottle and magazine, and check out who is coming down the aisle.

While I waited, I couldn't wait to dive into the latest Sky Mall Magazine to see what latest gizmos will make my life easier, when I saw a man coming down the aisle who couldn't possibly be as mean as he looked.

He was a short, scrawny looking, wiry chap who had the contorted face of someone who was perpetually pissed off. No, I thought, he couldn't act the way he looked. Not until he dropped the F-bomb at his wife when they took someone else's seat so they could sit together. After all, he "couldn't give a s**t" if he and his wife were in separate seats. I'm glad he was a good boy throughout the flight!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the kids who were on board. A family of five, a doting mom and dad who were forced into separate seating - Mom with a couple of the kids, and Dad with the other kid. They visited each other during the flight. They allowed the kids to trade seats. And, they were quick to clean up the barf that came from the youngest member of the brood after he drank probably more than a belly-full of Sprite and we hit a little turbulence over the Arizona desert.

But, FINALLY, we made it back to LAX, parking lot "B", my car, and now home. I have my glass of wine, my grub, my computer, and I hope you enjoy this hub!