Would You Go? – Tom Finneran

Would You Go? – Tom Finneran

The invitation comes in the day’s mail.

It looks legitimate and it promises a prompt no-pressure follow-up call before week’s end.

The call comes in as scheduled and the caller is courteous, professional, and prepared.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The offer is both simple and generous. It’s from an airline trying to jump start travel in the midst of America’s Covid consequences. And the offer is, as advertised, truly generous.

It promises free round-trip airfare to certain American cities along with greatly reduced hotel rates.

The immediate thought is the attractiveness of a lover’s week or weekend, as a temporary escape from the humble limitations of our multi-month quarantines. Don’t we all want to “get away” for a brief respite from daily duties?

There’s a catch, however---the destinations are limited to five cities.

Those cities are New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland.

Would you go?

The first three cities on the list are legendary American cities, all beautiful, all historic, and all unique.

New York! Can anyone in the world really describe New York? The pace, the scale, the sheer immensity and swagger of the city defies description. Theater weekends in New York City! Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Zoo. Harlem. The Brooklyn Bridge. The Statue of Liberty. The Empire State Building. Utterly unique.

Chicago, the city of big shoulders, with great restaurants, stunning architecture, and a magnificent waterfront. Try the Bookbinder Soup at the Drake Hotel! Home to the Cubs, the Bulls, the Bears, and the Blackhawks, Chicago is a fun town in all seasons.

San Francisco, the legendary city by the bay. The Golden Gate Bridge, the bay itself, the mighty Pacific, the hills, the wine, the food, and the cable cars……….what’s not to like about San Fran?

Seattle, home to Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, Mt. Rainier, and a major port of call to many cruise lines, the city has its own unique waterfront and identity. The Space Needle, the ferries, and Pike Place. A long flight, but an interesting town.

And Portland, on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, home to many bookstores, microbreweries, and test gardens for America’s best roses. A fair town in America’s kindler and gentler Northwest. Allegedly kinder. Allegedly gentler.

So when did arson become an American pastime? When did throwing bats, bricks, and feces at police officers become acceptable and earn applause? When did blinding firefighters with lasers become sport? When did the intimidation and forced confinement of law-abiding taxpayers in their own homes become a daily fact of life? When did human waste and discarded needles become part of the oh so chic and fashionable fabric of city living?

New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, all sadly lacking in leadership, all excelling in the blame-game, and all losing ground in America’s astounded eyes.

So the question remains---free round-trip airfare and reduced hotel rates! A lover’s weekend looms ahead!!

Would you go?