Harry & Sylvia go to Hong Kong

14 March 2001 - Hong Kong
The week was hectic... The big boss from the USA was in town which meant non-stop meetings... The two of us were scheduled to fly from Singapore to Hong Kong on the 5pm flight but schedule changed and the boss went on the 1:30 flight and I was to follow on the 5pm flight.

The good news, I would get to travel alone, not talk about business for a few hours and perhaps catch a few winks on the flight. Even better, I was ticketed in first class and it was a Singapore Airlines 747-400 flight going on to the USA so it had the sleeper seats with the 17 inch LCD movie monitors with an unlimited number of movies, news, sports and TV shows to choose from. Perhaps a glass of champagne, a movie and a nap were in order for an evening flight.

I arrived at the airport and headed to the check-in counter. It is quiet with only an older couple at the counter in front of me.

I first noticed that the couple was wearing matching, purple, velour workout suits with matching Nike jogging shoes. I chuckled over the fact that the women had blue hair (I don’t mean grey with a tint of blue... I’m talking sky blue...) He had a really bad, jet-black wig, the kind that you can see the webbing sticking out between his head and the nylon hair. In very thick New York accents they are explaining to the airline staff that they are on their 50thanniversary trip and they had visited Sydney, Bali, Singapore and they are on their way to Hong Kong and Beijing. I thought to myself, nice couple, hope they were having the time of their life... The agent was politely listening but it was apparent that she was more worried about when her next break was vs. the fact that the couple would be spending another 2 weeks in Asia.

Suddenly the woman turns and knocks her purse off the counter spilling contents all over the floor. I start helping her pick things up and she starts thanking me and saying how kind I was... I simply say “You are welcome” and my accent gives me a way... She says “OH YOU ARE AMERICAN!” I nod yes... She pokes her husband and said (loud enough for everyone in the terminal to hear) “HARRY, HE IS AN AMERICAN TOO!” Harry turns to me and says “Hello, I’m Harry Jacobs, very glad to meet you... this is my wife Sylvia, we are on our 50th wedding anniversary trip and we are visiting Sydney, Bali.... (see conversation with the ticket agent above).... Are you on holiday too?” I quietly say, no I’m on business and toss my ticket and passport on the counter hoping the agent will get me checked in quickly so I can go have a few quiet moments in the lounge...

The agent says “Mr. Hickman, are you just going to Hong Kong today?” I nod yes and suddenly hear Sylvia hollering at Harry, “HARRY, HE IS GOING TO HONG KONG TOO!” Harry taps me on the shoulder and says "Are you going to Hong Kong too?” ... I nod yes and give the agent that “Hurry up give me my boarding pass look”... Harry and Sylvia are rearranging their carry-on (about 10 big pieces including very very large Balinese hats...)...

I think to myself, if my hair goes completely either I’ll start polishing my head or at least invest in a good wig. I’ll advise Gerri that we are never ever to buy matching coloured shirts (or other pieces of clothing, velour jump suits in particular) and remember to thank my folks for moving me away from New York before I picked up a strong accent...).

I head through immigration and make a beeline for the lounge. I find a secluded corner and am happily reading the Herald Tribune when suddenly I hear a shrill voice screaming “LOOK HARRY, IT IS THE NICE MAN THAT HELPED ME WITH MY PURSE”. Harry asks if it OK if they join me as he pulls over a couple of chairs. I smile, nod and stick my nose back into my paper....

“SO, ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR VACATION IN ASIA” screams Sylvia. I say I’m on a business trip (again)... “So where are you from?” asks Harry. I deliberate my response... If I say I live in Singapore it will leave me open to more questions... If I say somewhere in the USA it will lead to more questions... I opt for the truth... BIG MISTAKE.

“SO YOU LIVE IN SINGAPORE?...DO YOU SPEAK JAPANESE” (mind you they just spent 5 days in Singapore where most everyone speaks and all signs are in English). I say “No, English is the official language and many people speak Chinese”. Sylvia proceeds to disagree with me and says everyone they met only spoke Japanese... I decide not to contradict her and just give an agreeable smile... Harry asks if I miss meat and potatoes... (I’m thinking one word answers are safe), so I go with a “yes”... He tells Sylvia “See, I’m not the only one who can’t eat rice all day long...” Sylvia starts to ask about my family, job, the weather, shoe size... when they announce the flight is departing. I quickly stand and say I have to run. “Have a great trip it was great meeting you!” I say as I head out the door.

I'm on board, in my seat trying to finish the Herald Tribune I’d started a few times, looking forward to a quiet flight... (you of course know where this is going) When suddenly I hear a shrill... “LOOK HARRY, THERE IS JOE AGAIN AND WE ARE RIGHT ACROSS THE AISLE FROM HIM”...

I’d really like to forget the balance of the flight but not sure if I can ever forget the fact that Harry and Sylvia took turns standing in the aisle, blocking the flight attendants and everyone else in the cabin for 4 solid hours. Even if I do say so myself, I was a very patient trooper...(I never finished my paper, never got to turn on the 17 inch video nor close my eyes for a short cat nap...) One of these days I’ll tell you about the Jacob children, grandchildren and recent delivery of the great grandchildren (twin girls who both have lots of curly hair...Helen and Margaret, 6lbs 11 oz each). I now know all the Jacob family by name, height, education and vocation...

We land and I bid adieu to my new best friends and run to immigration and baggage claim. I slump back in the taxi and hope for a quiet 20 minute ride... I get that, it was heaven...

You’d think it would end there and I’m sure you are tired of reading this but... (and I swear this is the truth...)

I’ve just finished the check-in process at the Shangri-La Hotel and am heading to the elevators when I hear (you guessed it)... “LOOK HARRY! THERE IS JOE. WHAT A SMALL WORLD!!!! ASK HIM IF HE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US FOR A COCKTAIL, ISN’T THIS A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL, BILLY AND VERONICA (their oldest son and his wife...) WOULD JUST LOVE THIS, AREN’T THE PEOPLE NICE, I NEVER KNEW JAPANESE PEOPLE WERE SO NICE....”

I turn to the bellman and in a hushed voice tell him to hurry... I yell back “Maybe tomorrow night Sylvia... it is late and I have meetings in the morning good night” as I run for the elevators...

This evening upon returning to the hotel I see them before they see me and I’ve been hiding in my room writing this ever since....

I know... I’ll be that old all too soon, I should be more patient and understanding... and and and...

By the way, if you’d like to correspond with Harry and Sylvia via email I have their other son, Mitchell’s email address, just in case you are going to New York and want to contact them for a meal... Harry and Sylvia don’t have a computer but Mitchell (25 years old, 6ft 2 inches tall, he is the tallest member of the Jacob clan) graduated with honours from MIT but spent a year back packing around Europe until he decided to come back and work at his Uncle Hy’s restaurant in Queens as a bus boy... but we all hope he gets a job with a computer company one of these days.... Just in case you were wondering...

Hope this finds you well and happy.