We had only been in Seattle, for a short period of time when one day the phone rang. I picked it up and in my usual fantastically welcoming voice announced "SAS may I help you" the voice at the other end introduced himself as a Scandinavian Consulate calling to advise that the Princess was recently on a state visit in Vancouver BC and would be driving down to Seattle to board our flight to Copenhagen. Royalty?? just at the sound of the word my heart started beating a mile a minute, OH God, what do I do? what do I say? do I curtsy or do I bow? Do I offer my hand? do I wear gloves? He went on to tell me he was on his way out to the airport to meet with me and brief me to her needs. An hour later, the consulate was sitting in my office and we had gone over the plans and was advised on protocol. My job was quite easy from the sound of things and I was raring to go. She was being driven to Seattle by limousine, met at the Canadian - US Peace Arch and escorted by the Washington State Patrol. I would get a call when the WSP entered Seattle which would give me some time to position myself. I was to stand out on Pac-Hwy in front of the Hilton Hotel. The Princess was pre-checked in and would not go to the reception desk, but go directly to her room in the rear portion of the hotel for a short rest and to freshen up. As soon as I see the WSP lead car I was to identify myself to them by waving my arm. The lead car would then stop, pick me up and I would lead them to the rear of the building. I was then suppose to get out of the WSP car and immediately go to the limousine where at soon as it stop, open the rear door on the side the princess was sitting, bow from the waist, offer my hand to hold her arm as she got out, never looking at her legs. Never speak unless she speaks first. Escort her to the consulate and then complete the duties to arrange to have her bags taken to the airport. Wellllllllllll........everything was as planned except for the part where I was to jump into the lead WSP car. I was on Pac-Hwy, saw the flashing red and blue lights of the lead car, my heart immediately reached 100 pumps per minute. The lead car approached and began to slow down, I thought this was my signal, I reached for the door handle but it was locked, the car was just slowing for a small speed bump in the drive. I found myself running after the lead car waving my hand for him to stop. Needless to say, he did not stop until the door at the rear of the building showed up. Thirty seconds later I came to a huffing, puffing stop at the rear door of the limousine, but I was not to be thrown off my duties. I opened the door, bowed from the waist or was I just leaning over trying to catch my breath, can't remember exactly. At any rate my eyes went directly to her legs as she moved them to the outside of the limousine. She did speak, "hello" my immediate reaction was "Hi" . Guess I lucked out there, she was a young, modern western type lady otherwise I probably would have been beheaded right there on the spot . She asked if I was OK and how rude it was for the lead car to ignore me. Well, anyway, it turned out OK. Later that evening she was brought to the airport by the WSP and the consulate and brought directly to our lounge area. I did make a better impression, on my home turf where I was in charge. Your highness, it was a pleasure, to serve you. Please visit again.
When, SAS, first decided to service SeaTac International airport in Seattle, I was selected to head up the passenger service end of the airport staff. It was arranged that I would come out to Seattle from New York two months in advance to assist in opening the airport facilities, along with another person in a higher management position. We had already selected the staff we wanted out here and they were to make their way out the middle of August 1966 in time for a Sept 2nd inaugural flight. Due to the scheduling of the aircraft, it was determined that we would have to work a minimum of 13 hours a day for 3 days a week, which never actually worked out. My schedule ended up as working 52 consecutive days before my first day off. Personnel, back in New York was up in arms along with payroll over this stretch. Anyway, since most of the day was spent waiting for the aircraft to return from Los Angeles back to Seattle before heading over the pond, we found the time to visit the restaurant for 4 or 5 cups of coffee and a sandwich. In those days, the most inexpensive sandwich on the menu was a lettuce,tomato, mayo sandwich for $2.75. One of our alert staff discovered that every sandwich served in the restaurant always had some lettuce and a few cherry tomatoes on each plate. SSSSSOOOOOO one day he order a mayonnaise sandwich. This stumped the waitress but keeping with the "we satisfy" slogan she asked him exactly what that was. Much to everyone surprise at the table, his immediate respond was," two slices of white bread with mayonnaise spread on them" She was unable to give an exact price but agreed to .25 cents. He also asked for a hot cup of water. She never caught on to that one. Out came his order. Now it was time to prepare his lunch. Into the hot cup of water went some ketchup from the table, little salt and pepper and WHALLA!! tomato soup, now the best part. Indeed the mayonnaise sandwich came with some lettuce and 3 cherry tomato's on the side. Guess it was there just to fill up the plate. At the flick of the eye, the lettuce ended up on one slice of bread with the 3 cherry tomato's sliced up and spread out. A perfect lettuce and tomato sandwich for .25 cents. Savings $2.50 x 7 total $17.50 per week. The cost of 2 cases of beer for the week end. The down point, came some weeks later when the assistant manager, a real nice Danish guy sat down at our table and began talking with us (we had all become very good friends) and as the bills were distributed, he announced that this meal was on him. Much to his surprise, we were eating much to good for such a small amount. Next day, much to OUR surprise written in long hand "Mayonnaise sandwich............$2.75..........." just goes to show how all good things come to a quick ending.
