OldManBear's Journal

I guess I'm in a mood to reminisce after talking to a friend. Get a hanky ready. This is one of those family stories that gets dragged out and told to young un's at family get-togethers.

One of my older cousins went through flight training in Pensacola back in the 70's. One night on a cross country navigation flight his plane went down over Louisiana. He was rescued by some locals, but it was six days before they could get him back to town due to injuries he'd received when he ejected. By this time, he knew he'd have been declared missing, possibly dead. His family would have gathered and begun the funeral plans. His first duty was to call his commanding officer, but he knew that there was one other call he needed to make first. He got the operator and told her he needed to make a collect call, but that he needed to talk to the receiving party first before the operator got permission to charge the call.

When the phone picked he said, "Mom, I'm okay, I'm alive, please accept the call."

The operator cut in and said, "Talk as long as you want. This call is on Ma Bell."

There are still good people out there.