Well that was a long time ago. Nearly 22 years in fact. Thinking it over it occurs to me that there may have been a message in their stories. Do you think that an alcoholic, as his or her addiction progresses, is a little like someone completely out of control who is careening along on a dangerous path which might well end up destroying not only the addict but also possibly injuring countless others in body or in spirit? I think I recall having seen a message in those stories and it gave me something to think about when I returned to the rehab.
I never saw those folks again. They were commercial airline pilots so I assume that they had all sobered up. On all the flights I took in the future the crew seemed very sober indeed. But again, there was that commuter flight out in San Francisco, bound for Eureka. Didn't I overhear the pilot and the co pilot chatting:
Co-Pilot: What happens if I push this button?
Pilot:
Don't push that! Don't ever push that button without my telling you!
Co-Pilot: Sorry! I was just curious. But what happens if I push this other one???
